County FMR · HUD FY2026
Horry County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Horry County, SC - 28% above the US average.
- $1,229
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,465
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +2.5%
- YoY change
- +28%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Horry is the 7th most expensive of 46 counties in South Carolina by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #503 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #503
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #7
- most expensive of 46 in South Carolina (2BR)
- +25%
- vs the state average
- $49,160
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.6%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (60.2%); nearby South Carolina counties range as much as 51% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Horry County, SC. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Horry County, South Carolina is $1,229 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,465/mo and a studio is $1,145/mo. This is 28% higher than the national average of $959 and 25% above the South Carolina average of $982.
Rent increased2.5% from FY 2025 ($1,199), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $49,160/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in South Carolina. Population: 356,578. Population grew 15.0% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than South Carolina's statewide growth of +5.2% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Horry County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Horry County's 2-bedroom of $1,465 ranks #503 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Rents run meaningfully above the national benchmark: 1-bedroom FMR is 28% higher than the US average of $959 (25% above South Carolina's $982). From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,199 → $1,229 (+2.5%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,229/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $49,160/year: still within reach of the county median income of $64,623, though a 2-bedroom at $1,465 raises the bar.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,133 | $1,145 | +$12 (+1.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,199 | $1,229 | +$30 (+2.5%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,406 | $1,465 | +$59 (+4.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,771 | $1,805 | +$34 (+1.9%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,065 | $2,111 | +$46 (+2.2%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Horry County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Where Horry sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,465 Top 16% higher than 84% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Horry compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other South Carolina counties
- Charleston
Charleston County
$1,630 1BR FMR / mo
- York
York County
$1,538 1BR FMR / mo
- Horry
Horry County
$1,229 1BR FMR / mo
- Greenville
Greenville County
$1,221 1BR FMR / mo
- Richland
Richland County
$1,164 1BR FMR / mo
- Lexington
Lexington County
$1,164 1BR FMR / mo
- Spartanburg
Spartanburg County
$1,083 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Horry is highlighted. Nearby South Carolina counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Charleston County ($1,630), York County ($1,538), Horry County (this county) ($1,229), Greenville County ($1,221), Richland County ($1,164), Lexington County ($1,164), Spartanburg County ($1,083).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,229/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using South Carolina BLS wages?
| Occupation | SC Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $108,690 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $99,340 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,900 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $73,180 | 20.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $59,370 | 24.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $58,260 | 25.3% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $58,020 | 25.4% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $51,810 | 28.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $48,640 | 30.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $38,960 | 37.9% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,940 | 38.9% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $29,560 | 49.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 50.1% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $26,830 | 55% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $24,510 | 60.2% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Horry County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Horry (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.1% overall, from $847 to $1,229. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 20.2% (FY 2022), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑2.5% | $1,145 | $1,229 | $1,465 |
| FY 2025 ↑1.0% | $1,133 | $1,199 | $1,406 |
| FY 2024 ↑19.8% | $1,121 | $1,187 | $1,361 |
| FY 2023 ↑8.1% | $966 | $991 | $1,141 |
| FY 2022 ↑20.2% | $885 | $917 | $1,062 |
| FY 2021 ↓9.9% | $732 | $763 | $898 |
| FY 2020 | $812 | $847 | $997 |
Part of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC Metro Area
Horry County is a central county of the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metropolitan statistical area.
Nearby Counties in South Carolina
Largest counties by population in South Carolina
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Horry County? ▼
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How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Horry County? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat Horry's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,229 implies about $49,160/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Horry can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.