Fair Market Rents: Polk County, NC (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Polk 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) | $824/mo | $858 (-4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $829/mo | $887 (-7%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $983/mo | $1,095 (-10%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,351/mo | $1,372 (-2%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $1,649/mo | $1,660 (-1%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in NC. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Polk 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 Polk County
We track 7 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Columbus | 4 | 180 |
| Tryon | 3 | 25 |