How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in State College?

In the State College, PA metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,537 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,383 to $1,691. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.

What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in State College?

HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the State College, PA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,274, 1-bedroom $1,282, 2-bedroom $1,537, 3-bedroom $1,977, 4-bedroom $2,020. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.

Did Section 8 rent limits change in State College for FY2027?

The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the State College, PA metro went from $1,406 in FY2026 to $1,537 in FY2027, an increase of $131 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.

How do I apply for Section 8 in State College?

Section 8 in State College is administered by Centre County Housing Authority. Each agency has its own application process, waiting lists and preferences. You may apply to more than one agency when eligible lists are open; a listing inquiry is not a voucher application. If you already have a voucher, confirm the receiving agency and any portability requirements for the proposed address.

Section 8 in State College, PA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

State College, PA metro area. FY2027 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, the housing authorities that run the program here, and whether landlords can legally refuse a voucher. Every figure comes straight from HUD data.

2-bedroom FMR (FY2027)

$1,537

HUD

Active vouchers

709

88% utilized

Housing authorities

serving this metro

Voucher protection

Not protected

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

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)	$1,274	$1,147 to $1,401
1-bedroom	$1,282	$1,154 to $1,410
2-bedroom	$1,537	$1,383 to $1,691
3-bedroom	$1,977	$1,779 to $2,175
4-bedroom	$2,020	$1,818 to $2,222

The two-bedroom HUD benchmark for State College is $1,537. Multiplying by 90% and 110% gives $1,383 to $1,691, 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.

What changed from FY2026 to FY2027 in State College

HUD's two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the State College, PA metro rose from $1,406 in FY2026 to $1,537 in FY2027, a change of +$131 a month (+9.3%). FY2027 figures took effect on October 1, 2026.

Bedrooms	FY2026	FY2027	Change
Efficiency (studio)	$1,187	$1,274	+$87 (+7.3%)
1-bedroom	$1,194	$1,282	+$88 (+7.4%)
2-bedroom	$1,406	$1,537	+$131 (+9.3%)
3-bedroom	$1,760	$1,977	+$217 (+12.3%)
4-bedroom	$1,862	$2,020	+$158 (+8.5%)

The FMR is not what the voucher pays. Each housing authority sets its own payment standard. The basic range is 90% to 110% of the applicable FMR or SAFMR, with exceptions and Moving to Work policies that may differ. A HUD effective date is not a household rent-change notice. Confirm the adopted schedule and its application to your lease or reexamination with your agency.

Already renting with a voucher in State College? Under standard HCV rules, once the housing authority raises its payment standard, the higher amount must be used for your subsidy no later than the earliest of three dates: a rent increase that would raise your share, your next regular or interim reexamination, or one year after the increase took effect (24 CFR 982.505(c)(4)). Confirm any applicable Moving to Work policy with your agency.

Landlords: a higher FMR does not raise a contract rent by itself. You still request the increase from the housing authority, and the new rent has to pass its rent reasonableness review against comparable unassisted units.

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 and FY2027, huduser.gov.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers

709

Occupied

625

Utilization

88%

Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means most vouchers issued here are already placed in a unit, so landlords who accept vouchers fill vacancies from a deep, reliable applicant pool.

Housing authorities serving State College

1 PHA administer vouchers in this metro. Apply with (or contact) the PHA that covers the specific address.

Centre County Housing Authority
Bellefonte , PA · PA088 · 709 HCV units
Status unknown
8143556965

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in State College, PA?

In most of the state, yes. Pennsylvania has no statewide source-of-income protection, so landlords in State College, PA can decline Section 8 applications unless a local ordinance says otherwise.

Pennsylvania has no statewide source-of-income protection for housing vouchers. Local ordinances may apply.

Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change, so verify current status before acting on a rejection or making a leasing decision.

Counties in the State College metro

County pages show the local voucher count, the housing authorities that serve it, and ZIP-level rent limits where HUD publishes them.

Centre County

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in State College?: In the State College, PA metro, the FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,537 per month. For illustration, 90% to 110% of that benchmark is roughly $1,383 to $1,691. This is not an adopted payment standard or subsidy quote. ZIP schedules, approved exceptions and Moving to Work rules may differ. Gross rent includes the applicable allowance for tenant-paid utilities.
What are the FY2027 Fair Market Rents in State College?: HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the State College, PA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,274, 1-bedroom $1,282, 2-bedroom $1,537, 3-bedroom $1,977, 4-bedroom $2,020. These are HUD benchmarks, not household subsidy amounts. Confirm whether your agency uses ZIP-based standards and which schedule applies to your unit.
Did Section 8 rent limits change in State College for FY2027?: The two-bedroom Fair Market Rent for the State College, PA metro went from $1,406 in FY2026 to $1,537 in FY2027, an increase of $131 a month. FY2027 Fair Market Rents took effect on October 1, 2026. HUD's effective date does not automatically change a household's assistance. Ask your administering agency which adopted schedule and effective date apply to a new lease, move or reexamination.
How do I apply for Section 8 in State College?: Section 8 in State College is administered by Centre County Housing Authority. Each agency has its own application process, waiting lists and preferences. You may apply to more than one agency when eligible lists are open; a listing inquiry is not a voucher application. If you already have a voucher, confirm the receiving agency and any portability requirements for the proposed address.

Find Section 8 apartments in State College

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.

Browse voucher-friendly listings in State College List your unit free

Rent limits from HUD FY2027 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.