FY2027 Small Area FMR · Columbia, MD

ZIP 21044 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 21044 (Columbia, MD) is $2,730 a month, up 10.1% from FY2026. That is 36% above the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area-wide FMR of $2,006.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,730per month ▲ 10.1%

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

Rank in the area16thof 191 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,457

2 BR Small Area FMR$2,730

110% of SAFMR$3,003

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

Studio$2,070▲ 13.7%

1 BR$2,210▲ 9.4%

2 BR$2,730▲ 10.1%

3 BR$3,410▲ 8.3%

4 BR$3,800▲ 8.9%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 21044 sits in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area

Of the 191 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 21044 has the 16th 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 $2,730 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	$2,070	$1,863 – $2,277	$1,523	$1,820
1 bedroom	$2,210	$1,989 – $2,431	$1,625	$2,020
2 bedrooms	$2,730	$2,457 – $3,003	$2,006	$2,480
3 bedrooms	$3,410	$3,069 – $3,751	$2,509	$3,150
4 bedrooms	$3,800	$3,420 – $4,180	$2,789	$3,490

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,730 needs about $109,200 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 21044 lies mainly in Howard 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
21045	Columbia	2.7 mi	$2,240
21046	Columbia	3.0 mi	$2,640
21029	Clarksville	4.4 mi	$2,660
20759	Fulton	4.5 mi	$2,570
20723	Laurel	4.7 mi	$2,510
21042	Ellicott City	5.0 mi	$2,640

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 21044?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 21044 are $2,070 (studio), $2,210 (1 BR), $2,730 (2 BR), $3,410 (3 BR) and $3,800 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 21044?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 21044 that range is $2,457 to $3,003 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 21044?

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.