Section 8 in Hickory, NC: FMR & Landlord Guide
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro area (CBSA 25860). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $858 | $772 – $944 |
| 1-bedroom | $908 | $817 – $999 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,095 | $986 – $1,205 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,372 | $1,235 – $1,509 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,660 | $1,494 – $1,826 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Hickory, NC covers up to $1,095 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $986–$1,205.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Hickory, NC
5 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Western Piedmont Council of Governments
Hickory, NC · NC159 · 1,952 HCV units
- Status unknown
City of Hickory Public Housing Authority
Hickory, NC · NC056 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Valdese Housing Authority
Valdese, NC · NC055 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Morganton Housing Authority
Morganton, NC · NC049 · 0 HCV units
- Status unknown
Lenoir Housing Authority
Lenoir, NC · NC074 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in NC
Source-of-income protection status for NC is not yet in our database. Check with a local attorney or the state civil-rights office before refusing a voucher applicant.
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Hickory, NC property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.