FY2027 Small Area FMR · Columbia, MD

ZIP 21045 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 21045 (Columbia, MD) is $2,240 a month, up 9.3% from FY2026. That is 12% above the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area-wide FMR of $2,006.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,240per month ▲ 9.3%

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

Rank in the area74thof 191 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,016

2 BR Small Area FMR$2,240

110% of SAFMR$2,464

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

Studio$1,700▲ 13.3%

1 BR$1,810▲ 8.4%

2 BR$2,240▲ 9.3%

3 BR$2,800▲ 7.7%

4 BR$3,110▲ 8.0%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 21045 sits in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area

Of the 191 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 21045 has the 74th 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 $2,240 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	$1,700	$1,530 – $1,870	$1,523	$1,500
1 bedroom	$1,810	$1,629 – $1,991	$1,625	$1,670
2 bedrooms	$2,240	$2,016 – $2,464	$2,006	$2,050
3 bedrooms	$2,800	$2,520 – $3,080	$2,509	$2,600
4 bedrooms	$3,110	$2,799 – $3,421	$2,789	$2,880

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,240 needs about $89,600 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 21045 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
21046	Columbia	2.4 mi	$2,640
21044	Columbia	2.7 mi	$2,730
21043	Ellicott City	3.7 mi	$2,480
21075	Elkridge	4.2 mi	$2,610
20794	Jessup	4.2 mi	$2,520
20763	Savage	4.9 mi	$2,530

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 21045?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 21045 are $1,700 (studio), $1,810 (1 BR), $2,240 (2 BR), $2,800 (3 BR) and $3,110 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 21045?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 21045 that range is $2,016 to $2,464 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 21045?

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.