FY2027 Small Area FMR · Towson, MD

ZIP 21285 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 21285 (Towson, MD) is $2,150 a month, up 6.4% from FY2026. That is 7% above the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area-wide FMR of $2,006.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,150per month ▲ 6.4%

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

Rank in the area81stof 191 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,935

2 BR Small Area FMR$2,150

110% of SAFMR$2,365

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

Studio$1,630▲ 10.1%

1 BR$1,740▲ 5.5%

2 BR$2,150▲ 6.4%

3 BR$2,690▲ 4.7%

4 BR$2,990▲ 5.3%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 21285 sits in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD area

Of the 191 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 21285 has the 81st 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 $2,150 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	$1,630	$1,467 – $1,793	$1,523	$1,480
1 bedroom	$1,740	$1,566 – $1,914	$1,625	$1,650
2 bedrooms	$2,150	$1,935 – $2,365	$2,006	$2,020
3 bedrooms	$2,690	$2,421 – $2,959	$2,509	$2,570
4 bedrooms	$2,990	$2,691 – $3,289	$2,789	$2,840

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,150 needs about $86,000 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 21285 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
21252	Towson	0.6 mi	$2,320
21204	Towson	1.6 mi	$2,340
21286	Towson	1.7 mi	$2,060
21212	Baltimore	2.4 mi	$1,820
21239	Baltimore	2.5 mi	$1,680
21093	Lutherville Timonium	3.3 mi	$1,940

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 21285?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 21285 are $1,630 (studio), $1,740 (1 BR), $2,150 (2 BR), $2,690 (3 BR) and $2,990 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 21285?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 21285 that range is $1,935 to $2,365 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 21285?

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.