Fair Market Rent Lookup by ZIP Code
Compare HUD FMR and Small Area FMR from studio through four bedrooms. Check the rent reference, its fiscal year and the local housing authority before setting your Section 8 rent assumptions.
Free lookup · No account required
Published by RentalCalcs · Content and usability reviewed .
Data periods and program effective dates are shown separately. Report a correction.
Look up FMR for your property
A HUD rent reference is a starting point. It is not an approved contract rent or a household’s voucher payment.
Need help interpreting the result? Read the FMR and Section 8 rent calculation guide.
From rent reference to investment
After confirming a rent assumption, compare voucher and market-rent cash flow. Allow for inspection timing, lease-up vacancy, utilities and operating costs.
Prepare for the voucher process
The housing authority checks rent reasonableness and calculates household assistance. Use VoucherMatch’s landlord resources for the operational steps.
Verify reference data in HUD’s FMR tables and SAFMR tables. See HUD’s payment standards guide for the distinction between the reference rent, payment standard and assistance payment.
For landlords
Do you accept Section 8?
List your rental free on VoucherMatch and reach voucher holders searching your market. Every application shows the voucher type and household size up front.
Frequently asked questions
What is Fair Market Rent (FMR)?
Fair Market Rent is HUD's annual estimate of what a modest rental home costs in a metro area or county, including utilities. It generally reflects the 40th percentile of local gross rents and is the basis for Housing Choice Voucher payment standards.
What is the difference between FMR and Small Area FMR?
FMR covers a HUD metro area or nonmetropolitan county. Small Area FMR (SAFMR) covers a ZIP code. This lookup prefers the newer available fiscal year; when years match, it uses the ZIP-level SAFMR. Having a ZIP-level record does not establish that a particular housing authority uses it. Confirm the applicable schedule with the PHA.
How much will Section 8 pay for my rental?
FMR alone cannot tell you. Check the administering housing authority’s official schedule. RentalCalcs shows recorded schedules only when available; our coverage is incomplete. A separate illustrative 90%–110% range is calculated from the selected HUD reference. Exceptions can fall outside that range. Approved rent, the utility allowance and the household’s circumstances determine the final landlord payment and tenant share.
Which year and location does the lookup use?
Each result shows the fiscal year of the stored HUD data, which may differ between ZIP and metro/county records. Where our data lacks a ZIP amount, the lookup uses its primary-county mapping and hides empty comparison columns. A missing record in RentalCalcs does not mean HUD has no published ZIP reference. Some counties span multiple HUD rent areas; a derived median is labeled when used. Verify the exact address and latest schedule with HUD and the PHA.
Is the FMR lookup free?
Yes. FMR, SAFMR, payment standard estimates, and source-of-income lookups are free, and the Section 8 investment analyzer adds full cash flow analysis for voucher rentals.