FY2027 Small Area FMR · Middle River, MD

ZIP 21220 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 21220 (Middle River, MD) is $2,040 a month, up 9.1% from FY2026. That is 2% above the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area-wide FMR of $2,006.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,040per month ▲ 9.1%

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

Rank in the area100thof 191 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,836

2 BR Small Area FMR$2,040

110% of SAFMR$2,244

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

Studio$1,550▲ 13.1%

1 BR$1,650▲ 8.6%

2 BR$2,040▲ 9.1%

3 BR$2,550▲ 7.6%

4 BR$2,840▲ 8.0%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 21220 sits in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area

Of the 191 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 21220 has the 100th 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 $2,040 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	$1,550	$1,395 – $1,705	$1,523	$1,370
1 bedroom	$1,650	$1,485 – $1,815	$1,625	$1,520
2 bedrooms	$2,040	$1,836 – $2,244	$2,006	$1,870
3 bedrooms	$2,550	$2,295 – $2,805	$2,509	$2,370
4 bedrooms	$2,840	$2,556 – $3,124	$2,789	$2,630

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,040 needs about $81,600 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 21220 lies mainly in 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
21162	White Marsh	3.1 mi	$2,070
21221	Essex	4.7 mi	$1,680
21128	Perry Hall	5.2 mi	$2,190
21237	Rosedale	5.6 mi	$1,850
21236	Nottingham	5.7 mi	$1,990
21010	Gunpowder	6.0 mi	$3,010

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 21220?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 21220 are $1,550 (studio), $1,650 (1 BR), $2,040 (2 BR), $2,550 (3 BR) and $2,840 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 21220?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 21220 that range is $1,836 to $2,244 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 21220?

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.