Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 17251 - 2027

Location: Chambersburg, PA | Metro: Chambersburg, PA MSA

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$920
1 Bedroom	$1,050
2 Bedrooms	$1,300
3 Bedrooms	$1,720
4 Bedrooms	$1,820
5 Bedrooms	$2,111
6 Bedrooms	$2,364
7 Bedrooms	$2,553
8 Bedrooms	$2,681

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

Median Household Income

$92,955

Housing Units

Renter Percentage

23.3%

Occupancy Rate

63.8%

Renter Occupied

To decide whether you should buy in ZIP code 17251 for Section 8 investment, follow these steps:

Step 1: Determine if the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1180 can cover the debt service on a property. If the FMR does not clear the debt service, the answer is No. You cannot afford to manage the property under Section 8 guidelines.

Step 2: Assess the market rent relative to the FMR. If the market rent is above $1180, then consider the following:

If the difference between the market rent and the FMR is significant, the answer is It Depends. High market rents suggest strong demand, but also indicate potential difficulties in finding tenants willing to pay the lower Section 8 rates.
If the market rent is only slightly above the FMR, the answer is Yes. The slight premium allows you to manage the property profitably while still attracting tenants.

If the market rent is exactly at $1180, the answer is Yes. This means that the FMR aligns perfectly with the market rent, making it feasible to operate under Section 8 without financial strain.

If the market rent is below $1180, the answer is No. A market rent below the FMR suggests that the area is already saturated with low-cost housing options, and your Section 8 units would be overpriced compared to what tenants can find elsewhere.

Step 3: Evaluate the percentage of renters and the days on market (DOM). With 23.3% of residents being renters and an average DOM of N/A days, the demand for rental properties is moderate. Consider the following:

If the DOM is very high, the answer is No. High DOM indicates that properties are staying vacant for too long, which can lead to financial losses.
If the DOM is moderate to low, the answer is Yes. Moderate to low DOM suggests that there is sufficient tenant interest to keep your property occupied, thus making it a viable Section 8 investment.

Note: The analysis is limited by the lack of specific market rent and DOM data. To make a fully informed decision, obtain these figures and reassess the viability of investing in ZIP code 17251 under Section 8 guidelines.

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.