Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 17724 - 2027

Location: Tioga County, PA | Metro: Williamsport, PA MSA

Investment Score for ZIP 17724

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,080

Median Price (2BR)

$161,458

1% Rule

0.67%

Annual Yield

8.03%

Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$770
1 Bedroom	$900
2 Bedrooms	$1,080
3 Bedrooms	$1,430
4 Bedrooms	$1,570
5 Bedrooms	$1,821
6 Bedrooms	$2,040
7 Bedrooms	$2,203
8 Bedrooms	$2,313

Investment Analysis by Bedroom Size

Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)

Bedrooms	Monthly FMR	Median Price	1% Rule	Grade
2BR	$1,080	$161,458	0.67%	D
3BR	$1,430	$190,811	0.75%	D
4BR	$1,570	$192,100	0.82%	C

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

4,693

Median Household Income

$55,817

Housing Units

2,137

Renter Percentage

31.7%

Occupancy Rate

84.2%

Renter Occupied

570

To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 17724 (Canton, PA) for Section 8 investment, follow this decision tree based on the provided data.

Step 1: Calculate if the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $920 can cover the debt service on a property valued at $167,514. The FMR is the maximum amount of rent that a Section 8 tenant can pay, which is crucial for covering mortgage payments and other expenses. For a property costing $167,514, typical annual debt service might range from $7,000 to $12,000 depending on financing terms. If your debt service exceeds $11,040 annually ($920 monthly), then the answer is No. If it's below, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Compare the market rent of $743 against the FMR of $920. Since market rent is below the FMR, you would be able to charge the higher FMR rate to Section 8 tenants. This means that, if you can secure a Section 8 tenant, the rental income will exceed the local market rate, making it a positive factor. Proceed to Step 3.

Step 3: Assess the demand. In Canton, PA, 31.7% of residents are renters. However, the Days on Market (DOM) is listed as N/A, indicating incomplete data. With 31.7% of the population renting, there is a notable demand for rental properties. But without knowing how long properties typically stay on the market, it's difficult to gauge the ease of finding tenants. Given this, the answer is It Depends.

If you can find a property with a debt service below $11,040 annually and are confident in securing Section 8 tenants, then the answer is Yes.
If the debt service is too high or if securing a Section 8 tenant seems uncertain due to unknown market conditions, the answer is No.
In cases where the debt service is manageable but tenant acquisition is unpredictable, further investigation into local rental dynamics and vacancy rates is recommended before making a decision.

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.