Fair Market Rents: Catawba County, NC (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Catawba County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | NC median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $858/mo | $858 (0%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $908/mo | $887 (+2%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,095/mo | $1,095 (0%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,372/mo | $1,372 (0%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,660/mo | $1,660 (0%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in NC. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Catawba County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Catawba County
We track 29 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Conover | 7 | 205 |
| Hickory | 21 | 1,237 |
| Newton | 6 | 231 |