FY2027 Small Area FMR · Harlingen, TX
ZIP 78550 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 78550 (Harlingen, TX) is $1,060 a month, down 0.9% from FY2026. That is 2% above the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area-wide FMR of $1,042.
Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms
Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.
FY2027 FY2026
Where 78550 sits in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area
Of the 22 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 78550 has the 8th 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 $1,060 for this ZIP code instead.
ZIP code 78550 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Willacy County, TX (same figures). The figure that applies depends on which side of the line the home is.
All unit sizes
| Unit | FY2027 SAFMR | Payment standard range | Area-wide FMR | FY2026 SAFMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $840 | $756 – $924 | $827 | $790 |
| 1 bedroom | $900 | $810 – $990 | $884 | $880 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,060 | $954 – $1,166 | $1,042 | $1,070 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,420 | $1,278 – $1,562 | $1,393 | $1,440 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,520 | $1,368 – $1,672 | $1,496 | $1,510 |
A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,060 needs about $42,400 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 78550 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
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 78550?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 78550 are $840 (studio), $900 (1 BR), $1,060 (2 BR), $1,420 (3 BR) and $1,520 (4 BR) a month.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in 78550?
Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 78550 that range is $954 to $1,166 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.
Which income limits apply in 78550?
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.