Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 01072 - 2027

Location: Franklin County, MA | Metro: Franklin County, MA

Investment Score for ZIP 01072

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$2,550

Median Price (2BR)

$384,314

1% Rule

0.66%

Annual Yield

7.96%

Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$1,780
1 Bedroom	$1,950
2 Bedrooms	$2,550
3 Bedrooms	$3,040
4 Bedrooms	$3,350
5 Bedrooms	$3,886
6 Bedrooms	$4,352
7 Bedrooms	$4,700
8 Bedrooms	$4,935

Investment Analysis by Bedroom Size

Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)

Bedrooms	Monthly FMR	Median Price	1% Rule	Grade
2BR	$2,550	$384,314	0.66%	D
3BR	$3,040	$459,032	0.66%	D
4BR	$3,350	$533,438	0.63%	D

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

1,521

Median Household Income

$111,667

Housing Units

708

Renter Percentage

9.8%

Occupancy Rate

86.4%

Renter Occupied

To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 01072 (Shutesbury, MA) for Section 8 purposes, follow these steps:

1) Does FMR $2060 (zip FY 2024) clear debt service on a $422,891 property?

No: The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 01072 in fiscal year 2024 is set at $2060 per month. This amount needs to cover both the mortgage payment and other expenses associated with the property, such as insurance, taxes, and maintenance. For a property valued at $422,891, a typical mortgage payment would be around $1,800 to $2,000, depending on interest rates and loan terms. Even without factoring in additional costs, the FMR does not comfortably exceed the mortgage payment alone, making it unlikely to clear all debt service requirements.

2) Is market rent $1,721 (Census ACS) above, at, or below FMR?

Below: According to Census ACS data, the average market rent in Shutesbury, MA is $1,721 per month. This is below the FMR of $2060, indicating that landlords participating in the Section 8 program could potentially receive higher rents compared to the market rate.

3) Are 9.8% renters + N/A-day DOM enough demand?

It depends: The rental market in Shutesbury, MA has a relatively low percentage of renters at 9.8%. Additionally, the Days on Market (DOM) data is not available, which makes it difficult to assess the speed at which rental properties are filled. However, the fact that market rents are lower than the FMR suggests there might be some demand for subsidized housing. Landlords should consider the potential for a steady income source, albeit with lower occupancy rates and possibly longer vacancy periods.

If you answered "No" to the first question, then purchasing a property in Shutesbury, MA specifically for Section 8 is not advisable due to the inability of the FMR to sufficiently cover the debt service on a $422,891 property. If the FMR was higher, it would make the investment more viable, especially considering the second question's answer, where market rents are below the FMR. However, the lack of available DOM data and the low percentage of renters suggest that demand is limited, making the decision to invest dependent on your tolerance for lower occupancy rates and potentially longer vacancy periods.

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-08-31). Demographics from U.S. Census (2024).

About FMR: Fair Market Rent (FMR) is used to determine payment standards for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program, initial renewal rents for some expiring project-based Section 8 contracts, and rent ceilings for HOME Investment Partnerships.