Section 8 in Suffolk County, MA
41,917 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Suffolk County, 97% utilized. 4 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
HUD Fair Market Rents in Suffolk 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) | $2,440 | $2,196 to $2,684 |
| 1-bedroom | $2,518 | $2,266 to $2,770 |
| 2-bedroom | $3,008 | $2,707 to $3,309 |
| 3-bedroom | $3,584 | $3,226 to $3,942 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,953 | $3,558 to $4,348 |
The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for Suffolk County is $3,008. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $2,707 to $3,309, 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 Suffolk 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 Suffolk County that is $85,700 a year for a family of four, about $7,140 a month before taxes. HUD's area median family income here is $164,600.
| Household size | Extremely low | Very low (50%) | Low (80%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $36,000 | $60,000 | $96,000 |
| 2 people | $41,150 | $68,600 | $109,700 |
| 3 people | $46,300 | $77,150 | $123,400 |
| 4 people | $51,400 | $85,700 | $137,100 |
| 5 people | $55,550 | $92,600 | $148,100 |
| 6 people | $59,650 | $99,450 | $159,050 |
| 7 people | $63,750 | $106,300 | $170,050 |
| 8 people | $67,850 | $113,150 | $181,000 |
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 $51,400 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 Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area, huduser.gov.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Suffolk County?
No. Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Suffolk 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.
Suffolk County in the Boston metro
Suffolk 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 →Landlord and investor tools for Suffolk County
RentalCalcsFree calculators and guides from RentalCalcs, built by the VoucherMatch team, for landlords deciding whether to accept vouchers.
- Suffolk County rental market dataRents, home prices, cap rates and cash flow estimates for investors.
- Section 8 rent analyzerHUD rent benchmarks and modeled comparisons for Massachusetts ZIP codes. Confirm adopted amounts with the agency.
- Compare HUD benchmarks with market rent in MassachusettsExplore modeled ZIP comparisons; these do not establish an approved rent or agency payment.
- Average rent in MassachusettsMarket 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.
Housing authorities serving Suffolk County
Each PHA sets its own payment standard, runs its own waitlist, and does its own inspections. Confirm the administering agency on your voucher and whether it can serve the proposed address; a ZIP code alone does not settle jurisdiction or portability.
Exec. Office Housing & Livable Communities
Boston · PHA code MA901
23,073 Section 8 unitsBoston · PHA code MA002
17,755 Section 8 unitsChelsea Housing Authority
Chelsea · PHA code MA016
609 Section 8 unitsRevere Housing Authority
Revere · PHA code MA014
480 Section 8 units
Frequently asked questions
- What is the income limit for Section 8 in Suffolk County?
- For FY2026, the very low income screening threshold in Suffolk County, MA is $60,000 for one person, $68,600 for two, $77,150 for three and $85,700 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 Suffolk County?
- HUD's FY2026 extremely low income limit in Suffolk County is $36,000 for one person and $51,400 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 Suffolk County?
- The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Suffolk County is $3,008 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of the benchmark is roughly $2,707 to $3,309. 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.
- Who runs Section 8 in Suffolk County?
- Housing Choice Vouchers in Suffolk County are administered by Exec. Office Housing & Livable Communities, Boston Housing Authority, Chelsea Housing Authority and other local housing authorities. Each authority keeps its own waiting lists and eligibility preferences. Check each official application notice; applying to one agency does not apply to the others.
Find Section 8 apartments in Suffolk 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 Massachusetts counties
Voucher counts aggregated from HUD PHA jurisdiction data. Population 785,443 · FIPS 25025.