How Much Does Section 8 Pay in Hartford? (FY2027 Payment Standards by ZIP)
There is no single Section 8 rent number for Hartford, and anyone who quotes one is skipping the most important fact about the program here: the Hartford metro area is a mandatory Small Area FMR metro, which means the subsidy ceiling is set ZIP code by ZIP code. For a 2-bedroom in FY2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rents across the 57 ZIP codes in Hartford County run from $1,560 in ZIP 06051 to $2,900 in ZIP 06089, a gap of roughly half again.
This guide walks through the FY2027 figures by bedroom size, the math behind your share of the rent, and the housing authorities that administer vouchers in the Hartford metro area.
The FY2027 Numbers: Low ZIP vs. High ZIP
Two ZIP codes at opposite ends of Hartford County show how far the FY2027 figures move:
| Bedrooms | ZIP 06051 | ZIP 06089 |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,090 | $2,020 |
| 1 BR | $1,250 | $2,310 |
| 2 BR | $1,560 | $2,900 |
| 3 BR | $1,860 | $3,460 |
| 4 BR | $2,050 | $3,810 |
Split the 57 ZIP codes in Hartford County down the middle and the median 2-bedroom figure is $1,920, at ZIP 06080. For reference, HUD's metro-wide FMR for the Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT area is $1,933 for a 2-bedroom, which is roughly what every ZIP would get if the metro weren't a Small Area FMR area.
Treat these as the starting point, not the final word. A payment standard is set by each housing authority, usually somewhere between 90% and 110% of HUD's figure, and it can differ by authority inside the same metro. Check the number for your ZIP and bedroom size with the PHA that issued your voucher. Our Hartford Section 8 guide list the ZIP-level data, and HUD's SAFMR dataset is the primary source.
Beyond Hartford County: The Whole Metro
The Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT area takes in 142 ZIP codes in the FY2027 data, and the range widens once you leave Hartford County: the 2-bedroom figure runs from $1,410 in ZIP 06237 (Tolland County) to $2,900 in ZIP 06269 (Tolland County), with a metro-wide median of $1,930.
To see the full ladder rather than just the two ends, here are five ZIPs spread evenly across the 142 in the metro:
| ZIP | County | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06237 | Tolland County | $1,130 | $1,410 | $1,680 |
| 06073 | Hartford County | $1,500 | $1,880 | $2,240 |
| 06132 | , | $1,540 | $1,930 | $2,300 |
| 06090 | Hartford County | $1,670 | $2,070 | $2,540 |
| 06269 | Tolland County | $2,310 | $2,900 | $3,460 |
FY2026 to FY2027: The Change Effective October 1, 2026
HUD's metro-wide 2-bedroom FMR for Hartford went up 3.6% from FY2026 to FY2027: $1,865 to $1,933. Across the 136 ZIP codes HUD published in both years, the 2-bedroom figure rose in 112 and fell in 21, holding in 3. The steepest cut was ZIP 06422, $2,370 to $2,140; the biggest increase was ZIP 06442, $1,730 to $2,000. Higher FMRs give the housing authority room to raise its payment standard, which usually shows up in approvable rents a few months after the fiscal year starts on October 1.
What You Actually Pay as a Tenant
The formula is the same everywhere in the country: you pay roughly 30% of adjusted monthly income, and the housing assistance payment fills the gap up to the standard for your ZIP and unit size. A household bringing in $2,400 a month pays about $720; at the median 2-bedroom figure for Hartford County of $1,920, the authority covers up to $1,200.
The ZIP-based system exists to let voucher holders reach higher-cost neighborhoods: a voucher that only stretches to $1,560 in one ZIP is worth $2,900 in another, and your own payment doesn't move with it. If a landlord asks for more than the standard, you can sometimes pay the difference yourself, but the authority caps your total share at 40% of income at move-in.
Hartford Landlords: What the Standard Means for You
A voucher tenancy in Hartford means the authority pays its share directly every month, the unit passes an inspection up front, and turnover is typically lower than market-rate. Where the ZIP-level standard is close to market rent, that stability is the whole pitch; where the standard runs below market, you can still list and let the PHA's rent reasonableness review decide.
Also non-negotiable: refusing a voucher holder is illegal in Connecticut under the Conn. Gen. Stat. §46a-64c (1989). Source of income is a protected class, so "no vouchers" in an ad is itself a violation.
Own rentals in the Hartford metro area? List them free on VoucherMatch; tenants here search by ZIP code and voucher type.
Who Administers Section 8 in Hartford
Which authority runs your voucher determines your paperwork, your inspections, and the exact payment standard applied. The largest programs in the Hartford metro area:
- Connecticut Department of Housing, (860) 270-8171, about 8,900 vouchers
- Housing Authority of the City of New Haven, (203) 498-8800, about 6,600 vouchers
- City of Hartford Housing Authority, (860) 757-9031, about 5,100 vouchers
- Waterbury Housing Authority, (203) 596-2647, about 3,000 vouchers
- Housing Authority of the City of Hartford, (860) 723-8400, about 2,900 vouchers
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a 2-bedroom Section 8 voucher worth in Hartford in FY2027? It depends on the ZIP code: HUD's FY2027 Small Area FMRs for 2-bedrooms range from $1,560 (06051) to $2,900 (06089) across the 57 ZIPs in Hartford County, with a median around $1,920. Your PHA's payment standard is set from these figures.
Why does my voucher cover more in some neighborhoods than others? The Hartford metro area is a mandatory Small Area FMR metro, so HUD publishes a separate FMR for every ZIP code instead of one metro-wide number. The ceiling moves with local rents.
Can a Hartford landlord refuse my voucher? No. Refusing an applicant because they pay with a voucher is illegal in Connecticut under the Conn. Gen. Stat. §46a-64c (1989).
Do these numbers include utilities? The standards assume rent plus a utility allowance fit within the ceiling. If you pay utilities yourself, the approvable rent drops by the allowance for your unit size. The mechanics are the same ones we cover in our utility allowance guide, with Hartford's own allowance schedules.
Where can I see the number for my exact ZIP? Our Hartford Section 8 guide list payment data ZIP by ZIP, or check HUD's SAFMR lookup and confirm with your housing authority.
For the rest of the state, see our Connecticut Section 8 overview.
Searching in Hartford with a voucher? Browse voucher-friendly listings from landlords who want your business.
Hartford landlord? List your property free. In much of the metro, the voucher pays at or close to market.
VoucherMatch Editorial Team
Every rule, date and dollar amount in this article is checked against the agency document it comes from, and the sources are listed above. How VoucherMatch articles are researched and corrected
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