VoucherMatch

Section 8 in Worcester, MA, MA: Rent Limits and Housing Authorities

Worcester, MA metro area. FY2026 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 (FY2026)
$1,532
HUD
Active vouchers
5,880
91% utilized
Housing authorities
15
serving this metro
Voucher protection
Protected
MGL Ch 151B §4(10)

Fair Market Rent by bedroom count

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.

BedroomsFMRPayment standard (90 to 110%)
Efficiency (studio)$1,096$986 to $1,206
1-bedroom$1,200$1,080 to $1,320
2-bedroom$1,532$1,379 to $1,685
3-bedroom$2,131$1,918 to $2,344
4-bedroom$2,570$2,313 to $2,827

Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Worcester covers up to $1,532 in gross rent, before the tenant's utility allowance. Across the full range a PHA may set: $1,379 to $1,685.

Voucher demand in this metro

Active vouchers
5,880
Occupied
5,323
Utilization
91%

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 Worcester

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

  • Worcester Housing Authority

    Worcester , MA · MA012 · 3,700 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5086353000

  • Milford Housing Authority

    Milford , MA · MA069 · 567 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5084739521

  • Leominster Housing Authority

    Leominster , MA · MA086 · 404 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9785375300

  • Fitchburg Housing Authority

    Fitchburg , MA · MA037 · 227 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9783425222

  • Shrewsbury Housing Authority

    Shrewsbury , MA · MA041 · 177 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5087570323

  • Oxford Housing Authority

    Oxford , MA · MA106 · 153 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5089875055

  • the Bridge of Central Massachusetts

    Worcester , MA · MA188 · 133 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5087550333

  • Southbridge Housing Authority

    Southbridge , MA · MA076 · 128 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5087655858

  • Gardner Housing Authority

    Gardner , MA · MA127 · 108 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9786326634

  • Warren Housing Authority

    Warren , MA · MA105 · 69 HCV units

    Status unknown
    4134367184

  • Holden Housing Authority

    Holden , MA · MA082 · 62 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9787286970

  • Athol Housing Authority

    Athol , MA · MA100 · 61 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9782494848

  • Webster Housing Authority

    Webster , MA · MA123 · 47 HCV units

    Status unknown
    5089431634

  • Winchendon Housing Authority

    Winchendon , MA · MA039 · 44 HCV units

    Status unknown
    9782972280

  • Auburn Housing Authority

    Auburn , MA · MA159

    Status unknown
    5088323852

Can a landlord refuse Section 8 in Worcester, MA?

No. Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from refusing a renter because they pay with a Section 8 voucher. That protection applies in Worcester, MA. 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.

Counties in the Worcester metro

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

Frequently asked questions

How much does Section 8 pay for a 2-bedroom in Worcester?
In the Worcester, MA metro, the FY2026 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent is $1,532 per month. A housing authority usually sets its Section 8 payment standard between 90% and 110% of that, roughly $1,379 to $1,685 in gross rent before the tenant's utility allowance.
What are the FY2026 Fair Market Rents in Worcester?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Worcester, MA metro, by bedroom size: studio $1,096, 1-bedroom $1,200, 2-bedroom $1,532, 3-bedroom $2,131, 4-bedroom $2,570. Section 8 payment standards are based on these figures.
How do I apply for Section 8 in Worcester?
Section 8 in Worcester is administered by Worcester Housing Authority, Milford Housing Authority, Leominster Housing Authority and other local housing authorities. Apply through the authority whose jurisdiction covers the address, as each runs its own waitlist. Once you have a voucher, search voucher-friendly units and apply on VoucherMatch.

Find Section 8 apartments in Worcester

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.

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Other Section 8 markets in MA

Rent limits from HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rent data. Investor running the numbers? The RentalCalcs voucher analyzer uses this same dataset.