FY2027 Small Area FMR · Brownsville, TX

ZIP 78520 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 78520 (Brownsville, TX) is $1,050 a month, unchanged from FY2026. That is 1% above the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area-wide FMR of $1,042.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,050per month ■ 0.0%

Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,042Brownsville-Harlingen, TX

Rank in the area9thof 22 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$945

2 BR Small Area FMR$1,050

110% of SAFMR$1,155

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

Studio$830▲ 6.4%

1 BR$890▲ 2.3%

2 BR$1,050■ 0.0%

3 BR$1,400▼ 1.4%

4 BR$1,510▲ 2.0%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 78520 sits in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area

Of the 22 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 78520 has the 9th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Brownsville-Harlingen, TX 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 $1,042 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $1,050 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	$830	$747 – $913	$827	$780
1 bedroom	$890	$801 – $979	$884	$870
2 bedrooms	$1,050	$945 – $1,155	$1,042	$1,050
3 bedrooms	$1,400	$1,260 – $1,540	$1,393	$1,420
4 bedrooms	$1,510	$1,359 – $1,661	$1,496	$1,480

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,050 needs about $42,000 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $64,600 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $66,950. ZIP code 78520 lies mainly in Cameron County. See the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX county page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIP	Place	Distance	2 BR SAFMR
78575	Olmito	4.3 mi	$1,220
78526	Brownsville	6.6 mi	$1,230
78586	San Benito	11.0 mi	$1,010
78567	Los Indios	13.3 mi	$1,010
78521	Brownsville	14.5 mi	$1,050
78578	Port Isabel	16.2 mi	$1,010

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 78520?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 78520 are $830 (studio), $890 (1 BR), $1,050 (2 BR), $1,400 (3 BR) and $1,510 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 78520?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 78520 that range is $945 to $1,155 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 78520?

The FY2026 income limits of the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area apply: median family income $64,600, low-income (80%) limit $66,950 for a family of four.