FMR Lookup › Maryland › Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,362 | $1,226 – $1,498 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,511 | $1,360 – $1,662 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,857 | $1,671 – $2,043 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,358 | $2,122 – $2,594 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,611 | $2,350 – $2,872 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $1,857 — 41% above the Maryland median of $1,314 across all 15 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD FMR area is a metro area covering: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne's County, Baltimore city. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Maryland markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Mary's County | $1,672 | $1,833 | $2,264 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $1,520 | $1,810 | $2,170 |
| Calvert County | $1,851 | $2,083 | $2,639 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $2,015 | $2,246 | $2,835 |
| Talbot County | $1,282 | $1,409 | $1,960 |
| Salisbury | $1,061 | $1,378 | $1,818 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Baltimore-Columbia-Towson.