Erie 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).

$1,0912-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8511-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$88,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Erie County is $1,091 a month, down 10.0% from $1,212 in FY2026. Erie County belongs to the Erie, 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 Erie County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$753	$836	−9.9%	$678 – $828
1 bedroom	$851	$945	−9.9%	$766 – $936
2 bedrooms	$1,091	$1,212	−10.0%	$982 – $1,200
3 bedrooms	$1,350	$1,499	−9.9%	$1,215 – $1,485
4 bedrooms	$1,564	$1,683	−7.1%	$1,408 – $1,720

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 Erie County that is typically $982 to $1,200 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?

$34,870median income of renter households

$904Median gross rent, all units

31%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,870 can afford about $872 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,091 is $219 (25.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,640 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,276 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Erie County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$904 ±$20
Median income of renter households	$34,870 ±$1,692
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.2% ±2.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	27.0% ±1.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	32,863

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$753	$904	+20.1%
Median renter household income	$28,963	$34,870	+20.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	47.0%	49.2%	+2.2 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 $1,100 to $1,600 depending on the ZIP code.

All 43 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
16401	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16403	$770	$860	$1,100	$1,390	$1,540
16407	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16410	$770	$870	$1,110	$1,380	$1,630
16411	$850	$970	$1,240	$1,530	$1,710
16412	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,560
16413	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16415	$1,090	$1,240	$1,570	$1,950	$2,300
16417	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16421	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16423	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16426	$780	$880	$1,130	$1,400	$1,610
16427	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16428	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16430	$840	$960	$1,230	$1,520	$1,700
16434	$870	$950	$1,130	$1,550	$1,690
16435	$780	$860	$1,100	$1,400	$1,540
16438	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16441	$840	$950	$1,220	$1,510	$1,740
16442	$1,000	$1,130	$1,430	$1,770	$2,090
16443	$1,110	$1,260	$1,600	$1,990	$2,340
16444	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,560
16475	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16501	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16502	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16503	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16504	$840	$950	$1,200	$1,490	$1,760
16505	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16506	$980	$1,110	$1,410	$1,750	$2,070
16507	$810	$920	$1,170	$1,450	$1,710
16508	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,520
16509	$880	$1,000	$1,270	$1,580	$1,860
16510	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,360	$1,580
16511	$830	$940	$1,210	$1,500	$1,710
16512	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16514	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16515	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16541	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16544	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16546	$840	$950	$1,200	$1,490	$1,760
16550	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600
16563	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,360	$1,580
16565	$760	$860	$1,100	$1,350	$1,600

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

HUD income limits for Erie County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $88,600 (FY2025: $84,400, +5.0%). 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%)	$18,650 +5.1%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$31,050 +5.1%	$35,450 +4.9%	$39,900 +5.0%	$44,300 +5.0%	$47,850 +4.9%	$51,400 +4.9%	$54,950 +5.0%	$58,500 +4.9%
Low income (80%)	$49,650 +5.1%	$56,750 +5.1%	$63,850 +5.1%	$70,900 +5.0%	$76,600 +5.1%	$82,250 +5.0%	$87,950 +5.1%	$93,600 +5.1%

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.