Section 8 in Somerset County, ME
HUD rent limits, income limits and housing authorities for Somerset County. Serving housing authorities vary by ZIP.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Somerset County (FY2027)
HUD rent benchmarks for FY2027, effective October 1, 2026. These are not adopted housing-authority payment standards or household subsidy amounts. The illustration shows 90% to 110% of FMR; ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules can differ.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Illustration: 90% to 110% of FMR |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,031 | $928 to $1,134 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,038 | $934 to $1,142 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,242 | $1,118 to $1,366 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,676 | $1,508 to $1,844 |
| 4-bedroom | $1,731 | $1,558 to $1,904 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Somerset County is $1,242. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,118 to $1,366, not an approval range. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities. Your agency must calculate assistance using its adopted standard, your household and the proposed unit.
Section 8 income limits in Somerset County (FY2026)
To qualify for a Housing Choice Voucher, a household's gross annual income generally has to be at or below the very low income limit for its size. In Somerset County that is $45,950 a year for a family of four, about $3,820 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $81,700.
| Household size | Extremely low | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $19,300 | $32,200 | $51,450 |
| 2 people | $22,050 | $36,800 | $58,800 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $41,400 | $66,150 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $45,950 | $73,500 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $49,650 | $79,400 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $53,350 | $85,300 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $57,000 | $91,150 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $60,700 | $97,050 |
Which column applies to you. The middle column is the eligibility line for most applicants (24 CFR 982.201). The low income column only applies in special cases, such as families already receiving federal housing assistance. Federal rules generally require at least 75% of admissions from the waiting list each year to be extremely low income families. This does not predict selection or waiting time. For a family of four here, that threshold is $33,000 or less.
Income is counted before taxes and covers the whole household. The housing authority verifies it when your name is reached on the waiting list, so what counts is your income at that point. Being under the income limit is only one part of eligibility and does not guarantee admission.
Compare your household income with Section 8 limits and see how monthly income becomes an annual estimate.
Source: HUD FY2026 Section 8 Income Limits for the Somerset County, ME, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Somerset County?
In most of the state, yes. Maine has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in Somerset County can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.
Maine Human Rights Act, 5 M.R.S. §4582
Statute protects recipients of housing assistance, but Dussault v. RRE Coach Lantern Holdings (2014) lets landlords refuse voucher tenants over program requirements. Portland has its own ordinance. PRRAC Appendix B (March 2026).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Landlord and investor tools for Somerset County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Somerset County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Maine ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in MaineExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in MaineMarket rent versus HUD fair market rent by city and bedroom count.
- How Section 8 rent is calculatedFair market rent, payment standards and rent reasonableness, step by step.
- Section 8 landlord math for 2026What the payment standard changes mean for cash flow this year.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Somerset County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Somerset County, ME is $32,200 for one person, $36,800 for two, $41,400 for three and $45,950 for a family of four. Limits vary by household size. The agency also checks other eligibility requirements and any applicable exceptions.
- What counts as extremely low income in Somerset County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Somerset County is $19,300 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. Housing authorities must give at least 75% of the vouchers they issue from the waiting list each year to families at or below this level.
- How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Somerset County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Somerset County is $1,242 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $1,118 to $1,366. This is not a household rent limit. ZIP-based schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ; ask your agency for its adopted standard and the unit's utility allowance.
Find Section 8 apartments in Somerset County
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. The administering housing authority must approve the actual unit, rent and household assistance calculation.
Nearby Maine counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 50,656 · FIPS 23025.