Section 8 in Middlesex County, MA
19,022 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Middlesex County, 89% utilized. 6 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Middlesex County (FY2026)
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards, the amount a PHA actually pays, are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at each PHA's discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90 to 110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $2,359 | $2,123 to $2,595 |
| 1-bedroom | $2,476 | $2,228 to $2,724 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,941 | $2,647 to $3,235 |
| 3-bedroom | $3,526 | $3,173 to $3,879 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,894 | $3,505 to $4,283 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Middlesex County covers up to $2,941 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $2,647 to $3,235.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Middlesex County?
No. Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Middlesex County. If you were turned away for having a voucher, that refusal may be illegal.
MGL Ch 151B §4(10)
Massachusetts General Laws Ch 151B §4(10) prohibits housing discrimination based on lawful source of income statewide. Enforcement by the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
View statute →Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.
Middlesex County in the Boston metro
Middlesex County is one of the counties inside the Boston, MA core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Boston metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Middlesex County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. The PHA whose jurisdiction covers a unit's ZIP is the one both tenant and landlord will deal with.
Cambridge Housing Authority
Cambridge · PHA code MA003
7,597 Section 8 unitsLowell Housing Authority
Lowell · PHA code MA001
1,405 Section 8 unitsSomerville Housing Authority
Somerville · PHA code MA031
1,355 Section 8 unitsMedford Housing Authority
Medford · PHA code MA015
1,194 Section 8 unitsFramingham Housing Authority
Framingham · PHA code MA028
1,065 Section 8 unitsMalden Housing Authority
Malden · PHA code MA022
983 Section 8 units
Find Section 8 apartments in Middlesex County
VoucherMatch connects voucher holders with landlords who accept Section 8, and it is free for renters. Landlords: listings here reach applicants whose voucher already covers the rent above.
Other Massachusetts counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 1,623,109 · FIPS 25017.