HUD FY2026 · ACS 2019–2023 generous top-quartile

High-rent metro gap - Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA

Displayed gap in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA: +14.4% (HUD $1,857 vs ACS $1,623) · counties in FMR rows: Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, Baltimore city, Carroll County, Harford County, Howard County, Queen Anne's County .

FMR gap dispatch plate

CBSA 12580 · Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD -14.4% shortfall

GAP-GENEROUS · FMR-TOP · SPREAD-PLUS · PHOTO-FINISH · COUNTY-MID · BOOK-FULL

  • GAP-GENEROUS 14.4% surplus
  • FMR-TOP #349/396 · P88
  • SPREAD-PLUS +$234
  • PHOTO-FINISH Grand Rapids-Wyomi
  • COUNTY-MID 7 counties
  • BOOK-FULL HUD+ACS pair

Nearest shortfall peer: Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area (+0.0pp)

HUD's reference overshoots the ACS median by $234/mo. Lease-up odds are usually better than in shortfall markets, though still compare Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area before assuming portability helps.

Instrument codes from this metro’s HUD FMR vs ACS shortfall band, national FMR quartile, dollar spread, gap peer, county footprint, and book completeness, not a moving recommendation.

Shortfall neighbourhood around Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Metros nearest this CBSA on voucher-vs-market shortfall (HUD FMR vs ACS 2-BR median). Full ladder: /gap/.

% shortfall
Source HUD USER FMR + Census ACS median gross rent As of 2026-08-25

How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD compare with nearby FMR areas?

These are the twelve metros closest to Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD on the displayed voucher-vs-market margin. Their county lists are HUD FMR-area coverage, not a claim that the markets are interchangeable.

  1. Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area

    -14.4% shortfall · HUD $1,334 vs ACS $1,166 · $+$168/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Barry County.

  2. Lansing-East Lansing, MI Metro Area

    -14.4% shortfall · HUD $1,268 vs ACS $1,108 · $+$160/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Clinton County, Eaton County, Ingham County.

  3. Columbus, GA-AL Metro Area

    -14.5% shortfall · HUD $1,088 vs ACS $950 · $+$138/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Chattahoochee County, Harris County, Marion County, Muscogee County, Russell County.

  4. York-Hanover, PA Metro Area

    -14.3% shortfall · HUD $1,335 vs ACS $1,168 · $+$167/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: York County.

  5. Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV Metro Area

    -14.6% shortfall · HUD $1,261 vs ACS $1,100 · $+$161/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Washington County.

  6. Greenville, NC Metro Area

    -14.7% shortfall · HUD $1,095 vs ACS $955 · $+$140/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Pitt County.

  7. Shreveport-Bossier City, LA Metro Area

    -14.2% shortfall · HUD $1,111 vs ACS $973 · $+$138/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish, De Soto Parish.

  8. Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area

    -14.1% shortfall · HUD $1,358 vs ACS $1,190 · $+$168/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Caldwell County, Cass County, Clay County, Clinton County, Jackson County, Johnson County.

  9. Columbus, OH Metro Area

    -14.8% shortfall · HUD $1,430 vs ACS $1,246 · $+$184/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Delaware County, Fairfield County, Franklin County, Licking County, Madison County, Morrow County.

  10. Cape Girardeau, MO-IL Metro Area

    -14.0% shortfall · HUD $992 vs ACS $870 · $+$122/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Alexander County, Bollinger County, Cape Girardeau County.

  11. Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area

    -13.9% shortfall · HUD $1,242 vs ACS $1,090 · $+$152/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Benton County, Tippecanoe County.

  12. Fort Wayne, IN Metro Area

    -13.9% shortfall · HUD $1,113 vs ACS $977 · $+$136/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Allen County, Whitley County.

Source: HUD USER FY2026 Fair Market Rent area records and Census ACS 2019–2023 median gross rent.

MD FMR scale context

These are the closest FY2026 2-BR FMR values in MD; they help place this HUD reference on its state scale, but do not substitute for each metro’s ACS rent comparison.

  1. Calvert County, MD HUD Metro FMR Area $2,083 (+$226)
  2. Hagerstown, MD HUD Metro FMR Area $1,261 (−$596)
  3. Somerset County, MD HUD Metro FMR Area $1,167 (−$690)

Low-FMR contrast (scale only)

Bay City, MI MSA ($1,030 2-BR); Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX MSA ($1,103 2-BR); Fayette County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area ($915 2-BR); Arecibo, PR Metro Area ($510 2-BR) . Opposite-quartile FMR metros for scale, not gap substitutes for Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA.

Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA gap inputs

  • HUD 2-BR FMR (FY2026): $1,857/mo
  • ACS 2019–2023 2-BR median: $1,623/mo
  • Displayed gap: +14.4%
  • National FMR percentile: 88 (#349/396)

displayed % = (HUD 2-BR − ACS 2-BR median) / ACS median × 100

MD HCV agencies (scale-keyed)

Full payment standards for Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD MSA · Payment standards vs FMR

Source: HUD USER Fair Market Rent FY2026, Census ACS median gross rent. Gap is PlainVoucher-derived. Methodology.

Disclaimer. For informational purposes only, not a substitute for PHA counseling or legal advice. Median gross rent reflects rents paid by current tenants; asking rents for available units typically run higher. Actual PHA payment standards can differ from HUD FMR by ±10%. Always confirm the current payment standard with your PHA. PlainVoucher is not affiliated with HUD or any PHA.

Verify with HUD → · Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Source and method. PlainVoucher compiles public HUD and U.S. Census release data into a searchable reference. Release periods and source boundaries are identified on each data surface; PlainVoucher does not determine eligibility, waitlist status, payment standards, or local PHA rules. Read our editorial standards and corrections policy, methodology, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-08-25.