Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Fair Market Rent (FY2026)
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA · MD · 7 counties · pop. 2,840,005 (2023)
The FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $1,857/month. Across bedroom sizes the HUD FMR runs from $1,362 (studio) to $2,611 (4-bedroom). That 2-bedroom figure is $882 above the US national median FMR of $975 — far above the national median FMR — and ranks #32 of 75 among the largest metros (1 = most expensive). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median.
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD FMR by bedroom size
| Unit size | Monthly FMR | ≈ Weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,362 | $315 | $16,344 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,511 | $349 | $18,132 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,857 | $429 | $22,284 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,358 | $545 | $28,296 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,611 | $603 | $31,332 |
Source: HUD USER, FY2026 Fair Market Rents (40th percentile, revised final). Data as of June 2026.
Weekly and annual figures are simple conversions of the monthly FMR (÷4.33 and ×12). The monthly FMR is HUD's published value. Verify on huduser.gov.
What this FMR means
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of the 40th-percentile gross rent — contract rent plus tenant-paid utilities — for a modest, non-luxury unit in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD. It is recalculated each fiscal year from American Community Survey rent data and a current-year inflation factor. Public housing agencies use the FMR to set Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standards, typically 90–110% of the FMR. A higher FMR means the program will cover a higher rent in this area; it does not mean landlords charge exactly this much.
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD vs its state and the US
| Benchmark | 2-bedroom FMR |
|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $1,857 |
| Maryland state median | $1,314 |
| US national median | $975 |
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD sits in Maryland, where the median area's 2-bedroom FMR is $1,314 and areas range from $973 to $2,246.
Metro areas with a similar FMR
The five areas closest to Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD on the 2-bedroom FMR scale:
| Metro area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD (this area) | $1,362 | $1,511 | $1,857 | $2,358 | $2,611 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $1,474 | $1,562 | $1,852 | $2,347 | $2,760 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | $1,286 | $1,477 | $1,865 | $2,236 | $2,537 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $1,457 | $1,583 | $1,839 | $2,452 | $2,720 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $1,585 | $1,660 | $1,820 | $2,182 | $2,605 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $1,397 | $1,520 | $1,810 | $2,170 | $2,423 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The FY2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA is $1,857 per month. FMR is the 40th-percentile gross rent (including utilities) HUD uses to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards — it is not the local market median. Verify the current figure at huduser.gov.
What are the FMRs for other bedroom sizes in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
In FY2026 the FMRs are $1,362 (studio), $1,511 (1-bedroom), $1,857 (2-bedroom), $2,358 (3-bedroom) and $2,611 (4-bedroom) per month. Larger units have higher FMRs because they assume more bedrooms and occupants.
Is rent in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD high compared with the rest of the US?
Its 2-bedroom FMR of $1,857 is $882 above the national median FMR of $975 (+90%) — far above the national median FMR. Among the 75 largest metros it ranks #32 of 75 by 2-bedroom FMR (1 = most expensive).
Does the FMR mean my voucher will cover that much rent?
Not exactly. The local public housing agency (PHA) sets a "payment standard" usually between 90% and 110% of the FMR, and your subsidy is based on that standard minus roughly 30% of your adjusted income. The FMR is the benchmark, not a guaranteed amount — check with the PHA that serves Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD.
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Source & accuracy
FY2026 Fair Market Rents, U.S. Dept. of Housing & Urban Development — HUD USER (public domain). FMR is the federal voucher rent standard, not the market median. Figures are a June 2026 snapshot of HUD's revised final FY2026 file; verify the current value on huduser.gov before relying on it.
Last updated: 2026-06-20