Centre County, PA: 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).

$1,5372-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2821-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$94,65080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$118,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Centre County is $1,537 a month, up 9.3% from $1,406 in FY2026. Centre County belongs to the State College, PA MSA 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 Centre County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,274	$1,187	+7.3%	$1,147 – $1,401
1 bedroom	$1,282	$1,194	+7.4%	$1,154 – $1,410
2 bedrooms	$1,537	$1,406	+9.3%	$1,384 – $1,690
3 bedrooms	$1,977	$1,760	+12.3%	$1,780 – $2,174
4 bedrooms	$2,020	$1,862	+8.5%	$1,818 – $2,222

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 Centre County that is typically $1,384 to $1,690 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?

$39,074median income of renter households

$1,207Median gross rent, all units

37%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

57%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $39,074 can afford about $977 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,537 is $560 (57.3%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $61,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $55,332 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Centre County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,207 ±$27
Median income of renter households	$39,074 ±$2,659
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	57.0% ±3.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	34.2% ±2.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	20,750

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$1,000	$1,207	+20.7%
Median renter household income	$30,811	$39,074	+26.8%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	57.1%	57.0%	−0.1 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 $1,270 to $1,730 depending on the ZIP code.

All 36 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
16666	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16677	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16686	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16801	$1,380	$1,390	$1,670	$2,150	$2,190
16802	$1,410	$1,420	$1,700	$2,190	$2,230
16803	$1,430	$1,440	$1,730	$2,230	$2,270
16804	$1,280	$1,280	$1,540	$1,980	$2,020
16820	$1,190	$1,190	$1,430	$1,840	$1,880
16822	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,690
16823	$1,100	$1,110	$1,330	$1,710	$1,750
16826	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16827	$1,330	$1,330	$1,600	$2,060	$2,100
16828	$1,070	$1,080	$1,290	$1,660	$1,700
16829	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16832	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16835	$1,110	$1,120	$1,320	$1,650	$1,740
16841	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16844	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16845	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16851	$1,340	$1,350	$1,620	$2,090	$2,130
16852	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16853	$1,140	$1,140	$1,370	$1,760	$1,800
16854	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16856	$1,100	$1,110	$1,330	$1,710	$1,750
16859	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16860	$1,090	$1,120	$1,360	$1,760	$1,790
16864	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16865	$1,260	$1,280	$1,510	$1,890	$2,020
16866	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16868	$1,380	$1,390	$1,670	$2,150	$2,190
16870	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16872	$1,070	$1,080	$1,290	$1,660	$1,700
16874	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16875	$1,070	$1,080	$1,270	$1,590	$1,680
16877	$1,080	$1,130	$1,310	$1,770	$2,010
16882	$1,070	$1,100	$1,290	$1,680	$1,800

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

HUD income limits for Centre County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $118,300 (FY2025: $108,100, +9.4%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$24,850 +9.2%	$28,400 +9.2%	$31,950 +9.2%	$35,500 +9.4%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$41,450 +9.5%	$47,350 +9.5%	$53,250 +9.5%	$59,150 +9.4%	$63,900 +9.4%	$68,650 +9.5%	$73,350 +9.4%	$78,100 +9.5%
Low income (80%)	$66,300 +9.5%	$75,750 +9.5%	$85,200 +9.4%	$94,650 +9.4%	$102,250 +9.4%	$109,800 +9.4%	$117,400 +9.4%	$124,950 +9.4%

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.