HUD FY2026 · ACS 2019–2023 generous below-median

Lower-half FMR gap - Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area

Displayed gap in Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area: +16.4% (HUD $1,276 vs ACS $1,096) · counties in FMR rows: Calhoun County, Fairfield County, Lexington County, Richland County, Saluda County .

FMR gap dispatch plate

CBSA 17900 · Columbia, SC -16.4% shortfall

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

  • GAP-GENEROUS 16.4% surplus
  • FMR-BELOW #191/396 · P48
  • SPREAD-PLUS +$180
  • PHOTO-FINISH Omaha
  • COUNTY-MID 5 counties
  • BOOK-FULL HUD+ACS pair

Nearest shortfall peer: Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area (-0.0pp)

HUD's reference overshoots the ACS median by $180/mo. Lease-up odds are usually better than in shortfall markets, though still compare Omaha, NE-IA 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 Columbia, SC

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 Columbia, SC compare with nearby FMR areas?

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

  1. Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area

    -16.4% shortfall · HUD $1,368 vs ACS $1,175 · $+$193/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Cass County, Douglas County, Harrison County, Mills County, Pottawattamie County, Sarpy County.

  2. Green Bay, WI Metro Area

    -16.4% shortfall · HUD $1,164 vs ACS $1,000 · $+$164/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Brown County, Kewaunee County.

  3. Tucson, AZ Metro Area

    -16.5% shortfall · HUD $1,402 vs ACS $1,203 · $+$199/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Pima County.

  4. Beckley, WV Metro Area

    -16.6% shortfall · HUD $915 vs ACS $785 · $+$130/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Fayette County.

  5. Anchorage, AK Metro Area

    -16.6% shortfall · HUD $1,631 vs ACS $1,399 · $+$232/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Anchorage Municipality.

  6. Wildwood-The Villages, FL Metro Area

    -16.2% shortfall · HUD $1,328 vs ACS $1,143 · $+$185/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Sumter County.

  7. Lancaster, PA Metro Area

    -16.1% shortfall · HUD $1,526 vs ACS $1,315 · $+$211/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Lancaster County.

  8. San Angelo, TX Metro Area

    -16.8% shortfall · HUD $1,339 vs ACS $1,146 · $+$193/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Irion County, Tom Green County.

  9. Longview, TX Metro Area

    -16.0% shortfall · HUD $1,199 vs ACS $1,034 · $+$165/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Gregg County, Upshur County.

  10. Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA Metro Area

    -16.9% shortfall · HUD $1,318 vs ACS $1,127 · $+$191/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Dallas County, Guthrie County, Madison County, Polk County, Warren County.

  11. Pueblo, CO Metro Area

    -17.0% shortfall · HUD $1,269 vs ACS $1,085 · $+$184/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: Pueblo County.

  12. Colorado Springs, CO Metro Area

    -15.8% shortfall · HUD $1,735 vs ACS $1,498 · $+$237/mo

    HUD FMR-area counties: El Paso County.

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

SC FMR scale context

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

  1. Sumter, SC MSA $1,276 (+$0)
  2. Spartanburg, SC HUD Metro FMR Area $1,187 (−$89)
  3. Anderson, SC HUD Metro FMR Area $1,173 (−$103)
  4. Darlington County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area $1,098 (−$178)
  5. Myrtle Beach-North Myrtle Beach-Conway, SC HUD Metro FMR Area $1,465 (+$189)
  6. Charleston-North Charleston, SC MSA $1,787 (+$511)
  7. Beaufort County, SC HUD Metro FMR Area $1,816 (+$540)

High-FMR contrast (scale only)

Colorado Springs, CO HUD Metro FMR Area ($1,735 2-BR); Corvallis, OR MSA ($1,622 2-BR); Chico, CA MSA ($1,625 2-BR); Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL HUD Metro FMR Area ($1,781 2-BR) . Opposite-quartile FMR metros for scale, not gap substitutes for Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area.

Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area gap inputs

  • HUD 2-BR FMR (FY2026): $1,276/mo
  • ACS 2019–2023 2-BR median: $1,096/mo
  • Displayed gap: +16.4%
  • National FMR percentile: 48 (#191/396)

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

Issuing PHAs for Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area

SC HCV agencies (scale-keyed)

Full payment standards for Columbia, SC HUD Metro FMR Area · 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.