Location: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | Metro: Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT MSA
Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,250 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,440 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,800 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,140 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $2,370 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,749 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $3,079 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $3,325 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $3,491 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,800 | $347,137 | 0.52% | F |
| 3BR | $2,140 | $428,236 | 0.5% | F |
| 4BR | $2,370 | $571,341 | 0.41% | F |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
To determine if you should buy in ZIP 06455 (Middlefield, CT) for Section 8 investment, follow these steps:
1) Does FMR $1770 (zip FY 2024) clear debt service on a $417,040 property?
No. The Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1770 would not cover the debt service on a property valued at $417,040. Assuming a standard mortgage rate and terms, the monthly mortgage payment would exceed the FMR amount, making it difficult to break even without additional subsidies or income sources.
2) Is market rent $1,773 (Census ACS) above, at, or below FMR?
At. The market rent of $1,773 is essentially at par with the FMR of $1770. This means that landlords can expect to receive rental income that closely matches the FMR, but there is little room for premium pricing.
3) Are 4.7% renters + N/A-day DOM enough demand?
No. With only 4.7% of the population renting, the demand for rental properties in Middlefield, CT is low. Additionally, the lack of data on days on market (DOM) suggests that there might be limited information available on how quickly rental units are typically filled. Low rental demand and unclear DOM indicators point towards a challenging environment for finding tenants.
In conclusion, purchasing a property in ZIP 06455 (Middlefield, CT) for Section 8 investment is not advisable based on the current data. The FMR does not sufficiently cover the debt service on a property of this value, and the rental market shows low demand with only 4.7% of the population being renters. These factors combined make it difficult to justify an investment in this area for Section 8 purposes.
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.