Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 03446 - 2027

Location: Cheshire County, NH | Metro: Cheshire County, NH

Investment Score for ZIP 03446

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$2,260

Median Price (2BR)

$320,298

1% Rule

0.71%

Annual Yield

8.47%

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	$1,570
1 Bedroom	$1,730
2 Bedrooms	$2,260
3 Bedrooms	$2,960
4 Bedrooms	$2,970
5 Bedrooms	$3,445
6 Bedrooms	$3,858
7 Bedrooms	$4,167
8 Bedrooms	$4,375

Investment Analysis by Bedroom Size

Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-07-31)

Bedrooms	Monthly FMR	Median Price	1% Rule	Grade
2BR	$2,260	$320,298	0.71%	D
3BR	$2,960	$417,455	0.71%	D
4BR	$2,970	$485,154	0.61%	D

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

6,588

Median Household Income

$85,484

Housing Units

2,870

Renter Percentage

24.1%

Occupancy Rate

97.6%

Renter Occupied

674

To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 03446 (Swanzey, NH) for Section 8 purposes, follow these steps:

If the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $2,450 clears the debt service on a property valued at $387,366:
- Yes. This indicates that the rental income is sufficient to cover the mortgage and other expenses associated with owning the property. Proceed to the next question.
If the market rent of $1,558 (as per Census ACS) is:
- Above the FMR: No. The market rent being higher than the FMR suggests that properties are more likely to be rented out at market rates rather than through the Section 8 program, making it less attractive for Section 8 investments.
- At or Below the FMR: Proceed to the third question.
If the percentage of renters (24.1%) combined with the days on market (DOM) status is considered:
- It depends. With 24.1% of residents being renters, there is some demand for rental properties. However, the lack of specific data on DOM makes it difficult to assess the urgency and competitiveness of the rental market. If the DOM is short, indicating quick leasing, this could support a positive investment decision. Conversely, long DOM periods would suggest a weak rental market.

In summary, for ZIP 03446 (Swanzey, NH), the key considerations are whether the FMR can cover the debt service, how the market rent compares to the FMR, and the overall demand for rentals. Given the data, the decision hinges on the ability of the FMR to clear debt service and the specific conditions of the rental market, particularly the DOM status.

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-07-31). 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.