Section 8 in Worcester County, MA
5,880 active Housing Choice Vouchers in Worcester County, 91% utilized. 6 housing authorities serve this county. Voucher data as of 2026.
Section 8 payment standards in Worcester 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) | $1,206 | $1,085 to $1,327 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,410 | $1,269 to $1,551 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,749 | $1,574 to $1,924 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,247 | $2,022 to $2,472 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,637 | $2,373 to $2,901 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Worcester County covers up to $1,749 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,574 to $1,924.
Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Worcester County?
No. Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Worcester 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.
Worcester County in the Worcester metro
Worcester County is one of the counties inside the Worcester, MA core-based statistical area. The metro-level view aggregates voucher activity across every housing authority in the CBSA.
See Worcester metro rent limits and PHA breakdown →Housing authorities serving Worcester 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.
Worcester Housing Authority
Worcester · PHA code MA012
3,700 Section 8 unitsMilford Housing Authority
Milford · PHA code MA069
567 Section 8 unitsLeominster Housing Authority
Leominster · PHA code MA086
404 Section 8 unitsFitchburg Housing Authority
Fitchburg · PHA code MA037
227 Section 8 unitsShrewsbury Housing Authority
Shrewsbury · PHA code MA041
177 Section 8 unitsOxford Housing Authority
Oxford · PHA code MA106
153 Section 8 units
Find Section 8 apartments in Worcester 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 858,898 · FIPS 25027.