Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 04073 - 2027

Location: York County, ME | Metro: York County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area

Investment Score for ZIP 04073

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,680

Median Price (2BR)

$331,653

1% Rule

0.51%

Annual Yield

6.08%

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	$1,270
1 Bedroom	$1,410
2 Bedrooms	$1,680
3 Bedrooms	$2,310
4 Bedrooms	$2,600
5 Bedrooms	$3,016
6 Bedrooms	$3,378
7 Bedrooms	$3,648
8 Bedrooms	$3,830

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
1BR	$1,410	$276,058	0.51%	F
2BR	$1,680	$331,653	0.51%	F
3BR	$2,310	$388,337	0.59%	F
4BR	$2,600	$410,739	0.63%	D
5BR	$3,016	$449,279	0.67%	D

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

17,414

Median Household Income

$72,917

Housing Units

8,012

Renter Percentage

30.6%

Occupancy Rate

93.7%

Renter Occupied

2,294

To determine if a landlord should buy in ZIP code 04073 (Sanford, ME) for Section 8 investments, follow these steps:

Step 1: Clear Debt Service with FMR?

The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 04073 in fiscal year 2024 is $1300. To assess if this clears debt service on a property valued at $367,549, consider the mortgage payment, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. For instance, if the annual debt service is $15,600 ($1300 monthly), then the FMR does cover it. However, if the annual debt service exceeds $15,600, then the answer is no.

Step 2: Market Rent vs. FMR?

The Zero Occupancy Rate Index (ZORI) for Sanford, ME, indicates that the market rent is $1,692 per month. This is above the FMR of $1300. If market rent is consistently higher than the FMR, landlords can potentially earn more by renting outside of Section 8, making the investment less attractive for Section 8 purposes.

Step 3: Sufficient Demand?

In ZIP 04073, 30.6% of residents are renters. The Days on Market (DOM) is listed as N/A, which suggests either insufficient data or that rentals are typically off-market, possibly due to strong local networks. Given the rental percentage, there is moderate demand for rental properties. However, without specific DOM data, it's challenging to quantify how quickly units are filled.

If Yes to Step 1 and Step 2: Proceed cautiously. The FMR covers your debt service, but market rents are higher, indicating potential competition from non-Section 8 rentals. Ensure you understand the local market dynamics and tenant preferences before investing.
If No to Step 1: Do not invest based on Section 8 alone. The FMR does not sufficiently cover the debt service, making it financially unviable without additional income sources or subsidies.
If It Depends on Step 3: Research further into the local rental market. The 30.6% rental rate suggests some demand, but the lack of DOM data means you must investigate other factors such as vacancy rates and tenant turnover to gauge the strength of the rental market.

In summary, for ZIP 04073, the decision to invest in Section 8 properties hinges on the ability of the FMR to cover debt service and the relative attractiveness of market rents compared to FMR. Moderate rental demand exists, but deeper analysis is required to confirm the viability of such an investment.

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.