Suffolk County, MA: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$3,0082-bedroom FMR, FY2027
$2,5181-bedroom FMR, FY2027
$137,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)
$164,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Suffolk County is $3,008 a month, up 2.3% from $2,941 in FY2026. Suffolk County belongs to the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area FMR area, so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Suffolk County by bedroom count

Unit sizeFY2027 FMRFY2026 FMRChangePayment standard range (90–110%)
Studio$2,440$2,359+3.4%$2,196 – $2,684
1 bedroom$2,518$2,476+1.7%$2,267 – $2,769
2 bedrooms$3,008$2,941+2.3%$2,708 – $3,308
3 bedrooms$3,584$3,526+1.6%$3,226 – $3,942
4 bedrooms$3,953$3,894+1.5%$3,558 – $4,348

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Suffolk County that is typically $2,708 to $3,308 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$69,876median income of renter households
$2,129Median gross rent, all units
37%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)
52%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $69,876 can afford about $1,747 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $3,008 is $1,261 (72.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $120,320 a year under the 30% rule, or $108,288 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Suffolk County, ACS 2020–2024Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)$2,129 ±$24
Median income of renter households$69,876 ±$1,697
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)52.0% ±1.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)26.1% ±0.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)197,443

Change since 2015–2019

ACS 2015–2019ACS 2020–2024Change
Median gross rent$1,590$2,129+33.9%
Median renter household income$48,583$69,876+43.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income50.9%52.0%+1.1 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $2,650 to $4,510 depending on the ZIP code.

All 259 ZIP codes in this FMR area
ZIP0 BR1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
01431$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01432$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01434$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01450$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01451$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01460$2,280$2,350$2,810$3,350$3,690
01462$2,130$2,350$2,840$3,620$4,230
01463$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01464$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01469$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01474$2,760$2,850$3,400$4,050$4,470
01503$2,130$2,230$2,840$3,890$4,250
01504$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01701$2,290$2,360$2,820$3,360$3,710
01702$2,280$2,350$2,810$3,350$3,690
01703$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
01704$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
01718$2,160$2,230$2,660$3,180$3,510
01719$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01720$2,160$2,230$2,660$3,180$3,510
01721$2,710$2,800$3,340$3,980$4,390
01730$2,790$2,880$3,440$4,100$4,520
01731$3,660$3,770$4,510$5,370$5,930
01741$2,310$2,460$3,070$3,680$4,040
01742$2,850$2,950$3,520$4,190$4,630
01746$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01748$2,670$2,750$3,290$3,920$4,320
01749$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01752$2,150$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01754$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01756$2,130$2,230$2,920$4,000$4,370
01760$2,430$2,500$2,990$3,560$3,930
01770$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
01773$2,480$2,560$3,060$3,650$4,020
01775$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01776$2,600$2,680$3,200$3,810$4,210
01778$2,300$2,370$2,830$3,370$3,720
01784$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
01801$2,660$2,750$3,280$3,910$4,310
01803$2,900$3,000$3,580$4,270$4,710
01821$2,130$2,340$3,050$3,680$4,010
01824$2,130$2,250$2,930$3,540$3,850
01833$2,130$2,300$3,010$3,590$3,960
01845$2,130$2,300$3,010$3,590$3,960
01864$2,560$2,640$3,160$3,770$4,150
01867$2,260$2,340$2,790$3,320$3,670
01876$2,190$2,420$3,150$3,800$4,140
01880$2,150$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01886$2,360$2,600$3,390$4,090$4,460
01887$2,810$2,900$3,460$4,120$4,550
01888$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
01889$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
01890$2,570$2,650$3,170$3,780$4,170
01901$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01902$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01903$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01904$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01905$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01906$2,440$2,520$3,010$3,590$3,960
01907$2,500$2,580$3,080$3,670$4,050
01908$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01913$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01915$2,270$2,340$2,800$3,340$3,680
01921$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01922$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01923$2,220$2,290$2,740$3,260$3,600
01929$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01930$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01931$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01936$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01937$2,220$2,290$2,740$3,260$3,600
01938$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01940$2,770$2,860$3,420$4,070$4,490
01944$2,160$2,230$2,660$3,180$3,510
01945$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01949$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01950$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01951$2,220$2,290$2,740$3,260$3,600
01952$2,150$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01960$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01961$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01965$2,250$2,320$2,770$3,310$3,650
01966$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01969$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01970$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01971$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01982$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01983$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
01984$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02018$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02019$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02020$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02021$2,600$2,680$3,200$3,810$4,210
02025$3,080$3,180$3,800$4,530$4,990
02026$2,350$2,430$2,900$3,460$3,810
02027$2,400$2,480$2,960$3,530$3,890
02030$2,660$2,790$3,320$3,970$4,390
02032$2,540$2,620$3,130$3,730$4,110
02035$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02038$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02041$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02043$2,250$2,320$2,770$3,300$3,640
02045$2,190$2,260$2,700$3,220$3,550
02047$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02048$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02050$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02051$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02052$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02053$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02054$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02056$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02059$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02060$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02061$2,380$2,460$2,940$3,500$3,860
02062$2,420$2,490$2,980$3,550$3,920
02065$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02066$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02067$2,780$2,870$3,430$4,090$4,510
02070$2,400$2,480$2,960$3,530$3,890
02071$2,220$2,290$2,730$3,260$3,590
02072$2,300$2,370$2,830$3,370$3,720
02081$2,280$2,350$2,810$3,350$3,690
02090$2,730$2,820$3,370$4,020$4,430
02093$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02108$2,980$3,070$3,670$4,370$4,820
02109$3,270$3,370$4,030$4,800$5,290
02110$3,660$3,770$4,510$5,370$5,930
02111$2,940$3,030$3,620$4,310$4,760
02112$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02113$3,100$3,200$3,820$4,550$5,020
02114$3,550$3,670$4,380$5,220$5,760
02115$2,920$3,010$3,600$4,290$4,730
02116$3,350$3,460$4,130$4,920$5,430
02117$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02118$2,470$2,540$3,040$3,620$4,000
02119$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02120$2,330$2,400$2,870$3,420$3,770
02121$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02122$2,380$2,460$2,940$3,500$3,860
02123$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02124$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02125$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02126$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02127$3,370$3,480$4,160$4,960$5,470
02128$2,350$2,430$2,900$3,460$3,810
02129$2,900$3,050$3,620$4,340$4,790
02130$2,900$2,990$3,570$4,250$4,690
02131$2,400$2,480$2,960$3,530$3,890
02132$2,380$2,460$2,940$3,500$3,860
02133$3,150$3,240$3,880$4,620$5,090
02134$2,760$2,850$3,400$4,050$4,470
02135$2,680$2,770$3,310$3,940$4,350
02136$2,160$2,230$2,660$3,180$3,510
02137$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02138$3,500$3,610$4,310$5,140$5,660
02139$3,320$3,420$4,090$4,870$5,380
02140$3,080$3,180$3,800$4,530$4,990
02141$3,220$3,320$3,970$4,730$5,220
02142$3,320$3,420$4,090$4,870$5,380
02143$2,940$3,040$3,630$4,330$4,770
02144$3,040$3,140$3,750$4,470$4,930
02145$2,810$2,900$3,470$4,130$4,560
02148$2,570$2,650$3,170$3,780$4,170
02149$2,370$2,440$2,920$3,480$3,840
02150$2,270$2,340$2,800$3,340$3,680
02151$2,210$2,280$2,720$3,240$3,570
02152$2,230$2,300$2,750$3,280$3,610
02155$2,700$2,790$3,330$3,970$4,380
02163$3,100$3,250$3,870$4,630$5,120
02169$2,490$2,570$3,070$3,660$4,030
02170$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02171$2,570$2,650$3,170$3,780$4,170
02176$2,290$2,360$2,820$3,360$3,710
02180$2,230$2,300$2,750$3,280$3,610
02184$2,320$2,390$2,860$3,410$3,760
02185$2,400$2,480$2,960$3,530$3,890
02186$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02188$2,230$2,300$2,750$3,280$3,610
02189$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02190$2,170$2,240$2,680$3,190$3,520
02191$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02196$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02199$3,660$3,770$4,510$5,370$5,930
02201$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02203$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02205$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02210$3,420$3,530$4,220$5,030$5,550
02215$3,280$3,390$4,050$4,830$5,320
02217$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02222$2,520$2,600$3,110$3,710$4,090
02238$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
02269$2,400$2,480$2,960$3,530$3,890
02302$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02322$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02327$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02330$2,190$2,260$2,700$3,220$3,550
02331$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02332$2,240$2,310$2,760$3,290$3,630
02338$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02339$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02341$2,190$2,400$3,140$3,930$4,130
02343$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02345$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02346$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02356$2,130$2,240$2,650$3,180$3,700
02358$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02359$2,560$2,640$3,160$3,770$4,150
02360$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02361$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02362$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02364$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02366$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02367$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02368$2,380$2,450$2,930$3,490$3,850
02370$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02381$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02420$3,130$3,230$3,860$4,600$5,070
02421$3,350$3,460$4,130$4,920$5,430
02445$3,130$3,230$3,860$4,600$5,070
02446$3,580$3,700$4,420$5,270$5,810
02447$2,400$2,480$2,960$3,530$3,890
02451$2,950$3,050$3,640$4,340$4,780
02452$2,590$2,670$3,190$3,800$4,190
02453$2,560$2,640$3,160$3,770$4,150
02454$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
02455$2,470$2,550$3,050$3,630$4,010
02457$3,250$3,360$4,010$4,780$5,280
02458$2,550$2,640$3,150$3,750$4,140
02459$2,680$2,760$3,300$3,930$4,340
02460$2,860$2,950$3,530$4,210$4,640
02461$3,520$3,630$4,340$5,170$5,700
02462$2,950$3,050$3,640$4,340$4,780
02464$2,730$2,820$3,370$4,020$4,430
02465$2,530$2,610$3,120$3,720$4,100
02466$2,550$2,640$3,150$3,750$4,140
02467$3,400$3,510$4,190$4,990$5,510
02468$3,110$3,210$3,830$4,560$5,030
02472$2,720$2,800$3,350$3,990$4,400
02474$2,610$2,700$3,220$3,840$4,230
02476$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02478$2,760$2,850$3,400$4,050$4,470
02481$3,370$3,480$4,160$4,960$5,470
02482$3,250$3,360$4,010$4,780$5,270
02492$2,900$2,990$3,570$4,250$4,690
02493$2,440$2,520$3,010$3,590$3,960
02494$2,580$2,660$3,180$3,790$4,180
02532$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02538$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02558$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02571$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02576$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02738$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02760$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
02762$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
03827$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
03833$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
03844$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
03858$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510
03874$2,130$2,230$2,650$3,180$3,510

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Suffolk County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $164,600 (FY2025: $160,900, +2.3%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size1 person2 people3 people4 people5 people6 people7 people8 people
Extremely low income (30%)$36,000
+3.6%
$41,150
+3.7%
$46,300
+3.7%
$51,400
+3.6%
$55,550
+3.6%
$59,650
+3.6%
$63,750
+3.6%
$67,850
+3.6%
Very low income (50%)$60,000
+3.6%
$68,600
+3.6%
$77,150
+3.6%
$85,700
+3.6%
$92,600
+3.6%
$99,450
+3.6%
$106,300
+3.7%
$113,150
+3.6%
Low income (80%)$96,000
+3.6%
$109,700
+3.6%
$123,400
+3.6%
$137,100
+3.6%
$148,100
+3.6%
$159,050
+3.6%
$170,050
+3.6%
$181,000
+3.6%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.

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