Income Limits by County

FY2027 Small Area FMR · Brownsville, TX

ZIP 78523 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 78523 (Brownsville, TX) is $1,040 a month, down 1.0% from FY2026. That is 0% equal to the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area-wide FMR of $1,042.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,040per month ▼ 1.0%
Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,042Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Rank in the area11thof 22 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$936
2 BR Small Area FMR$1,040
110% of SAFMR$1,144

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

FY2027 FY2026

Where 78523 sits in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area

$1,010$1,490median $1,040

Of the 22 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 78523 has the 11th 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 $1,040 for this ZIP code instead.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
UnitFY2027 SAFMRPayment standard rangeArea-wide FMRFY2026 SAFMR
Studio$830$747 – $913$827$780
1 bedroom$880$792 – $968$884$870
2 bedrooms$1,040$936 – $1,144$1,042$1,050
3 bedrooms$1,390$1,251 – $1,529$1,393$1,420
4 bedrooms$1,490$1,341 – $1,639$1,496$1,480

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,040 needs about $41,600 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 78523 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

ZIPPlaceDistance2 BR SAFMR
78520Brownsville2.2 mi$1,050
78575Olmito2.8 mi$1,220
78526Brownsville4.5 mi$1,230
78586San Benito10.9 mi$1,010
78521Brownsville12.9 mi$1,050
78578Port Isabel14.1 mi$1,010

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 78523?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 78523 are $830 (studio), $880 (1 BR), $1,040 (2 BR), $1,390 (3 BR) and $1,490 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 78523?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 78523 that range is $936 to $1,144 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 78523?

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.