Mercer 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).

$1,0282-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8101-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$68,95080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$83,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Mercer County is $1,028 a month, up 3.2% from $996 in FY2026. Mercer County belongs to the Mercer County, PA FMR area (non-metro county), 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 Mercer County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$716	$704	+1.7%	$645 – $787
1 bedroom	$810	$792	+2.3%	$729 – $891
2 bedrooms	$1,028	$996	+3.2%	$926 – $1,130
3 bedrooms	$1,423	$1,385	+2.7%	$1,281 – $1,565
4 bedrooms	$1,615	$1,538	+5.0%	$1,454 – $1,776

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 Mercer County that is typically $926 to $1,130 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?

$34,301median income of renter households

$843Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $34,301 can afford about $858 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,028 is $170 (19.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $41,120 a year under the 30% rule, or $37,008 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Mercer County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$843 ±$35
Median income of renter households	$34,301 ±$3,562
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.7% ±4.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	22.0% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	11,419

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$689	$843	+22.4%
Median renter household income	$28,479	$34,301	+20.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.0%	45.7%	+2.7 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.

HUD income limits for Mercer County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $83,600 (FY2025: $82,500, +1.3%). 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%)	$18,100 +2.8%	$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%)	$30,200 +3.1%	$34,500 +3.0%	$38,800 +2.9%	$43,100 +3.0%	$46,550 +3.0%	$50,000 +3.0%	$53,450 +3.0%	$56,900 +3.0%
Low income (80%)	$48,300 +3.0%	$55,200 +3.0%	$62,100 +3.0%	$68,950 +3.0%	$74,500 +3.0%	$80,000 +3.0%	$85,500 +3.0%	$91,050 +3.0%

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.