Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 17844 - 2027

Location: Union County, PA | Metro: Snyder County, PA

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$760
1 Bedroom	$950
2 Bedrooms	$1,030
3 Bedrooms	$1,430
4 Bedrooms	$1,720
5 Bedrooms	$1,995
6 Bedrooms	$2,234
7 Bedrooms	$2,413
8 Bedrooms	$2,534

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

10,291

Median Household Income

$68,314

Housing Units

4,748

Renter Percentage

30.0%

Occupancy Rate

89.5%

Renter Occupied

1,273

Housing Authorities Serving ZIP 17844

Housing Authority of the County of Union (Lewisburg, PA) - 557 Section 8 vouchers

To decide whether you should buy in ZIP code 17844 (Mifflinburg, PA) for Section 8, follow these steps:

If you can clear debt service on a $280,286 property with an FMR of $1,030:
- And if market rent ($965) is above FMR:
  Yes, you should consider buying in this area. The market rent being above the FMR indicates that properties could potentially be rented out at higher rates, providing a margin beyond the guaranteed Section 8 income.
- Or if market rent ($965) is equal to FMR:
  Yes, but with caution. Since the market rent is equal to the FMR, there is little room for additional revenue unless you manage to lease to non-Section 8 tenants willing to pay the FMR.
- But if market rent ($965) is below FMR:
  No. While Section 8 guarantees a certain level of income, having market rents below the FMR suggests limited flexibility to adjust rents upwards, which could impact your overall profitability.
If you cannot clear debt service on a $280,286 property with an FMR of $1,030:
No. If the FMR does not cover the debt service, then the property will not be financially viable even with the stability of Section 8 tenants.

The rental demand in Mifflinburg, PA is strong with 30.0% of residents being renters. However, the data shows 'N/A' for days on the market (DOM), meaning there is insufficient information to evaluate how quickly properties are typically leased. This uncertainty could affect your ability to secure a tenant promptly.

Given the above analysis, the viability of purchasing a property in ZIP 17844 hinges primarily on the ability to clear debt service and the relationship between market rent and FMR. Rental demand appears adequate, but the lack of DOM data introduces a risk factor that must be considered.

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.