FMR is near market; voucher and private rents are aligned.
0.91
2 BR
2 BR
0.81ratio
FMR$1,040
Market$1,290
vs market-$250
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.81
3 BR
3 BR
0.81ratio
FMR$1,390
Market$1,720
vs market-$330
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.81
4 BR
4 BR
0.72ratio
FMR$1,490
Market$2,070
vs market-$580
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.72
0.700.800.901.001.101.201.30aligned range
Historical
FY 2023-2027
FMR
FY2027
Market rent
last ~365 days
Property value
--
Tax rate
--
Mortgage rate
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ZIP 78551 fair market rent, FY 2027
For FY 2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 78551 (Harlingen, TX) is $1,040 a month. That is down 1.0% from $1,050 in FY 2026. Harlingen is in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA. HUD also publishes the ZIP-level Small Area FMRs shown here, but unless the local housing authority has adopted them, vouchers are based on the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,042. Among 22 ZIP codes in Cameron County, 78551 is tied for the 11th-highest two-bedroom rent (county range $1,010–$1,490). The median county two-bedroom FMR in Texas is $1,105, so ZIP 78551 is 6% below it.
FY 2027 rent by bedroom
FY 2027 fair market rent by bedroom for 78551
Bedrooms
FY 2026
FY 2027
Change
90–110% range
Studio
$780
$830
+6.4%
$747–$913
1BR
$870
$880
+1.1%
$792–$968
2BR
$1,050
$1,040
−1.0%
$936–$1,144
3BR
$1,420
$1,390
−2.1%
$1,251–$1,529
4BR
$1,480
$1,490
+0.7%
$1,341–$1,639
Fair market rent history, FY 2023–2027
Fair market rent by fiscal year for 78551
Fiscal year
Studio
1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR
FY 2027
$830
$880
$1,040
$1,390
$1,490
FY 2026
$780
$870
$1,050
$1,420
$1,480
FY 2025
$670
$760
$950
$1,270
$1,310
FY 2024
$660
$770
$970
$1,280
$1,380
FY 2023
$630
$700
$890
$1,150
$1,300
Two-bedroom rent in nearby Cameron County ZIP codes
How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in ZIP 78551?
Housing authorities set voucher payment standards, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR. With the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,042, which applies unless the housing authority uses Small Area FMRs, that basic range is $938 to $1,146 a month; under the ZIP-level Small Area FMR of $1,040 it would be $936 to $1,144. The voucher pays the lower of the payment standard or the gross rent, minus the tenant's share, which is usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income. Confirm the local housing authority's current schedule before underwriting.
Which HUD fair market rent area is ZIP 78551 in?
ZIP 78551 is in the Brownsville-Harlingen, TX MSA. Small Area FMRs are optional here; the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR is $1,042.
How much did fair market rent change in ZIP 78551 for FY 2027?
The two-bedroom FMR fell 1.0%, from $1,050 in FY 2026 to $1,040 in FY 2027. Since FY 2023 it has risen 16.9%.
When do FY 2027 fair market rents take effect?
HUD's FY 2027 fair market rents took effect on October 1, 2026. When FMRs change, housing authorities generally have up to three months to bring payment standards back within 90% to 110% of the new FMR.
Source: HUD FY 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents and area FMRs. Payment-standard ranges are 90% to 110% of FMR, HUD's basic range, not a housing authority's published schedule. How payment standards are set