Income Limits by County

FY2027 Small Area FMR · Brownsville, TX

ZIP 78526 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 78526 (Brownsville, TX) is $1,230 a month, down 0.8% from FY2026. That is 18% above the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area-wide FMR of $1,042.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,230per month ▼ 0.8%
Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,042Brownsville-Harlingen, TX
Rank in the area2ndof 22 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,107
2 BR Small Area FMR$1,230
110% of SAFMR$1,353

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

FY2027 FY2026

Where 78526 sits in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area

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

Of the 22 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 78526 has the 2nd 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 $1,230 for this ZIP code instead.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
UnitFY2027 SAFMRPayment standard rangeArea-wide FMRFY2026 SAFMR
Studio$980$882 – $1,078$827$920
1 bedroom$1,040$936 – $1,144$884$1,030
2 bedrooms$1,230$1,107 – $1,353$1,042$1,240
3 bedrooms$1,640$1,476 – $1,804$1,393$1,670
4 bedrooms$1,770$1,593 – $1,947$1,496$1,750

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,230 needs about $49,200 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 78526 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
78575Olmito5.0 mi$1,220
78520Brownsville6.6 mi$1,050
78521Brownsville9.0 mi$1,050
78578Port Isabel9.6 mi$1,010
78566Los Fresnos11.7 mi$1,010
78586San Benito13.4 mi$1,010

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 78526?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 78526 are $980 (studio), $1,040 (1 BR), $1,230 (2 BR), $1,640 (3 BR) and $1,770 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 78526?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 78526 that range is $1,107 to $1,353 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 78526?

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.