Location: Indiana County, PA | Metro: Pittsburgh, PA HUD Metro FMR Area
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 | $920 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,040 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,230 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,650 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,800 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,088 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,339 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,526 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,652 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-07-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,230 | $128,013 | 0.96% | C |
| 3BR | $1,650 | $181,752 | 0.91% | C |
| 4BR | $1,800 | $211,587 | 0.85% | C |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
17.3% of Saltsburg, PA's residents are renters, indicating a moderate demand for rental properties in ZIP code 15681. The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for 2024 stands at $1100, which is higher than the $865 market rent reported by the Census ACS, suggesting a potential opportunity for landlords to increase their rental rates closer to the FMR without losing tenants. The median home value of $158,983 provides a benchmark for property values, but it's the rental market where we focus our analysis. With a median income of $73,130, residents have a reasonable financial cushion to support slightly higher rents, especially if they perceive the value and quality of the properties to be high. Despite the lack of specific data on days on market (DOM) and price-cut share, the disparity between the FMR and current market rent indicates that there is room for growth without significantly impacting the affordability for tenants. This suggests that landlords can leverage the higher FMR to improve their investment returns. In conclusion, the favorable gap between the FMR and market rent, combined with the moderate renter population and solid median income, makes ZIP 15681 a suitable area for Section 8 investments.
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.