FY2027 Small Area FMR · Ellicott City, MD

ZIP 21043 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 21043 (Ellicott City, MD) is $2,480 a month, up 8.8% from FY2026. That is 24% above the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area-wide FMR of $2,006.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,480per month ▲ 8.8%

Area-wide 2 BR FMR$2,006Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, M

Rank in the area54thof 191 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,232

2 BR Small Area FMR$2,480

110% of SAFMR$2,728

Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.

Studio$1,880▲ 12.6%

1 BR$2,010▲ 8.6%

2 BR$2,480▲ 8.8%

3 BR$3,100▲ 7.3%

4 BR$3,450▲ 7.5%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 21043 sits in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area

Of the 191 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 21043 has the 54th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so voucher payment standards here are normally based on the area-wide FMR of $2,006 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $2,480 for this ZIP code instead.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
Unit	FY2027 SAFMR	Payment standard range	Area-wide FMR	FY2026 SAFMR
Studio	$1,880	$1,692 – $2,068	$1,523	$1,670
1 bedroom	$2,010	$1,809 – $2,211	$1,625	$1,850
2 bedrooms	$2,480	$2,232 – $2,728	$2,006	$2,280
3 bedrooms	$3,100	$2,790 – $3,410	$2,509	$2,890
4 bedrooms	$3,450	$3,105 – $3,795	$2,789	$3,210

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,480 needs about $99,200 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $134,000 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $106,800. ZIP code 21043 lies mainly in Howard County and Baltimore County. See the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIP	Place	Distance	2 BR SAFMR
21228	Catonsville	3.1 mi	$1,920
21045	Columbia	3.7 mi	$2,240
21075	Elkridge	4.5 mi	$2,610
21250	Baltimore	4.8 mi	$1,920
21042	Ellicott City	5.2 mi	$2,640
21044	Columbia	5.4 mi	$2,730

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 21043?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 21043 are $1,880 (studio), $2,010 (1 BR), $2,480 (2 BR), $3,100 (3 BR) and $3,450 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 21043?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 21043 that range is $2,232 to $2,728 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 21043?

The FY2026 income limits of the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area apply: median family income $134,000, low-income (80%) limit $106,800 for a family of four.