Lawrence 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).

$1,0952-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8441-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$69,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$86,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lawrence County is $1,095 a month, up 7.0% from $1,023 in FY2026. Lawrence County belongs to the Lawrence County, PA 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 Lawrence County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$763	$705	+8.2%	$687 – $839
1 bedroom	$844	$780	+8.2%	$760 – $928
2 bedrooms	$1,095	$1,023	+7.0%	$986 – $1,204
3 bedrooms	$1,516	$1,423	+6.5%	$1,365 – $1,667
4 bedrooms	$1,682	$1,610	+4.5%	$1,514 – $1,850

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 Lawrence County that is typically $986 to $1,204 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?

$30,613median income of renter households

$831Median gross rent, all units

33%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

51%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $30,613 can afford about $765 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,095 is $330 (43.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,420 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lawrence County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$831 ±$42
Median income of renter households	$30,613 ±$2,964
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	51.0% ±4.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.6% ±3.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	7,589

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$696	$831	+19.4%
Median renter household income	$25,485	$30,613	+20.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	51.8%	51.0%	−0.8 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 $1,010 to $1,460 depending on the ZIP code.

All 23 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
16037	$940	$1,000	$1,210	$1,550	$1,680
16051	$750	$810	$1,010	$1,360	$1,490
16057	$910	$970	$1,180	$1,510	$1,640
16101	$710	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,570
16102	$840	$930	$1,210	$1,680	$1,860
16105	$910	$1,010	$1,310	$1,810	$2,010
16112	$720	$800	$1,040	$1,440	$1,600
16116	$770	$850	$1,100	$1,520	$1,690
16117	$800	$870	$1,110	$1,500	$1,650
16120	$710	$790	$1,010	$1,400	$1,550
16123	$950	$1,020	$1,230	$1,580	$1,720
16127	$730	$830	$1,050	$1,450	$1,650
16132	$760	$830	$1,070	$1,470	$1,620
16140	$720	$790	$1,010	$1,400	$1,550
16141	$740	$810	$1,010	$1,370	$1,500
16142	$710	$790	$1,010	$1,410	$1,580
16143	$710	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,570
16155	$1,020	$1,120	$1,460	$2,020	$2,240
16156	$860	$960	$1,240	$1,710	$1,910
16157	$720	$790	$1,010	$1,400	$1,540
16159	$710	$800	$1,010	$1,410	$1,600
16160	$710	$780	$1,010	$1,410	$1,570
16172	$710	$790	$1,010	$1,410	$1,580

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

HUD income limits for Lawrence County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $86,900 (FY2025: $88,900, −2.2%). 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%)	$18,250 −2.4%	$21,640 +1.4%	$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%)	$30,450 −2.2%	$34,800 −2.2%	$39,150 −2.2%	$43,450 −2.2%	$46,950 −2.3%	$50,450 −2.2%	$53,900 −2.3%	$57,400 −2.2%
Low income (80%)	$48,650 −2.3%	$55,600 −2.3%	$62,550 −2.3%	$69,500 −2.3%	$75,100 −2.2%	$80,650 −2.2%	$86,200 −2.3%	$91,750 −2.3%

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.