Location: St. Lawrence County, NY | Metro: St. Lawrence County, NY
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 | $1,000 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,090 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,430 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,710 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,880 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,181 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,443 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,638 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,770 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-07-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,430 | $192,463 | 0.74% | D |
| 3BR | $1,710 | $216,591 | 0.79% | D |
| 4BR | $1,880 | $234,987 | 0.8% | C |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
A landlord considering investing in ZIP code 13625 (Colton, NY) for Section 8 properties must follow a structured decision-making process. The first step involves assessing whether the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1,180 for the metro area in fiscal year 2026 can cover the debt service on a property valued at $181,731. To determine this, calculate the monthly debt service required for the property. If the monthly debt service is less than or equal to $1,180, then the answer is yes, it clears the debt service. Otherwise, no, it does not.
The second question is whether the market rent is above, at, or below the FMR. In this case, the data indicates that the market rent is N/A, suggesting a lack of sufficient data points to make a definitive comparison. This makes the answer to this question uncertain. If you find additional sources indicating market rents, compare those figures to the FMR of $1,180. If market rents are significantly higher, it might indicate an opportunity for landlords to charge higher rents outside of Section 8. If they are lower, it could mean that Section 8 rents are already competitive with the market.
The third consideration is the demand for rental properties. The data shows that 9.5% of residents are renters, and the days on market (DOM) for rentals is N/A. This suggests that while there is a small but present rental market, there is insufficient data to gauge how quickly properties are rented. Given the limited information, the answer is it depends. A deeper analysis would require looking into local real estate trends and possibly contacting local realtors for insights on rental demand and vacancy rates.
If all conditions are met—debt service is covered by FMR, market rents are comparable or lower, and there is sufficient demand—the investment in ZIP 13625 could be viable. However, if any of these conditions are not met, further investigation is necessary before making an informed decision.
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.