FY2027 Small Area FMR · South Padre Island, TX

ZIP 78597 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 78597 (South Padre Island, TX) is $1,490 a month, down 3.9% from FY2026. That is 43% above the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area-wide FMR of $1,042.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,490per month ▼ 3.9%

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

Rank in the area1stof 22 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,341

2 BR Small Area FMR$1,490

110% of SAFMR$1,639

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

Studio$1,180▲ 3.5%

1 BR$1,260▼ 1.6%

2 BR$1,490▼ 3.9%

3 BR$1,990▼ 4.8%

4 BR$2,140▼ 2.3%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 78597 sits in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX area

Of the 22 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 78597 has the 1st 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 $1,490 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	$1,180	$1,062 – $1,298	$827	$1,140
1 bedroom	$1,260	$1,134 – $1,386	$884	$1,280
2 bedrooms	$1,490	$1,341 – $1,639	$1,042	$1,550
3 bedrooms	$1,990	$1,791 – $2,189	$1,393	$2,090
4 bedrooms	$2,140	$1,926 – $2,354	$1,496	$2,190

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,490 needs about $59,600 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 78597 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
78566	Los Fresnos	10.6 mi	$1,010
78583	Rio Hondo	12.8 mi	$1,010
78578	Port Isabel	17.0 mi	$1,010
78598	Port Mansfield	22.2 mi	$1,010
78526	Brownsville	22.2 mi	$1,230
78575	Olmito	23.3 mi	$1,220

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 78597?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 78597 are $1,180 (studio), $1,260 (1 BR), $1,490 (2 BR), $1,990 (3 BR) and $2,140 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 78597?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 78597 that range is $1,341 to $1,639 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 78597?

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.