Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 16102 - 2027

Location: Lawrence County, PA | Metro: Lawrence County, PA HUD Metro FMR Area

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$840
1 Bedroom	$930
2 Bedrooms	$1,210
3 Bedrooms	$1,680
4 Bedrooms	$1,860
5 Bedrooms	$2,158
6 Bedrooms	$2,417
7 Bedrooms	$2,610
8 Bedrooms	$2,741

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

4,929

Median Household Income

$56,053

Housing Units

2,313

Renter Percentage

19.9%

Occupancy Rate

88.2%

Renter Occupied

406

Housing Authorities Serving ZIP 16102

HOUSING AUTH CO OF LAWRENCE (New Castle, PA) - 433 Section 8 vouchers

To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 16102 (New Castle, PA) for Section 8 investment, follow these steps:

If the answer to "Does FMR $1,110 clear debt service on a $113,537 property?" is yes:
The Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1,110 is sufficient to cover the debt service on a property valued at $113,537. This indicates that the rental income can support the mortgage payments, making it a viable option.
If the answer to "Is market rent $1,006 above, at, or below FMR?" is that market rent is below FMR:
The market rent of $1,006 is below the FMR of $1,110. This suggests that properties in New Castle, PA are undervalued relative to the FMR set by HUD, which could be advantageous for acquiring properties at a lower cost.
If the answer to "Are 19.9% renters + N/A-day DOM enough demand?" is yes:
The percentage of renters at 19.9% combined with an unspecified number of days on the market (DOM) indicates a moderate level of demand. While the DOM is not specified, the rental rate suggests there is interest in renting properties in this area.

Based on the above criteria, the decision tree would look as follows:

Yes:
If FMR covers debt service and market rent is below FMR, and there is enough demand, then investing in ZIP 16102 is a good choice. The rental income will meet the mortgage obligations, and the lower market rents mean potential savings on acquisition costs.
No:
If FMR does not cover debt service, then buying in this ZIP code is not advisable. The rental income would not be enough to sustain the mortgage payments, leading to financial losses.
It depends:
If the market rent is close to the FMR or if the demand is uncertain due to the lack of DOM data, further investigation is required. Analyze additional factors such as vacancy rates, property appreciation trends, and local economic indicators to make a more informed decision.

The key data points for ZIP 16102 are:

Fair Market Rent (FMR): $1,110 per month (metro FY 2026)
Property Value: $113,537
Market Rent: $1,006 per month (Census ACS)
Renters: 19.9%

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). 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.