Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 17959 - 2027

Location: Schuylkill County, PA | Metro: Schuylkill County, PA

Investment Score for ZIP 17959

N/A

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,010

Median Price (2BR)

$N/A

1% Rule

Annual Yield

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	$710
1 Bedroom	$780
2 Bedrooms	$1,010
3 Bedrooms	$1,330
4 Bedrooms	$1,380
5 Bedrooms	$1,601
6 Bedrooms	$1,793
7 Bedrooms	$1,936
8 Bedrooms	$2,033

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
3BR	$1,330	$98,400	1.35%	A

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

1,445

Median Household Income

$52,361

Housing Units

734

Renter Percentage

22.3%

Occupancy Rate

83.8%

Renter Occupied

137

To determine if you should buy in ZIP code 17959 for Section 8 purposes, follow this decision tree:

Step 1: Clearing Debt Service with FMR

The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for the metro area in fiscal year 2026 is $970. A property valued at $91,592 would typically generate an annual debt service based on its value, interest rates, and terms of financing. For simplicity, let's assume a conservative annual debt service rate of 8%, which equates to approximately $7,327 per year or about $610 per month. Given that the FMR is $970, it clearly exceeds the estimated monthly debt service. Therefore, the answer to the first question is Yes. The FMR does cover the debt service on a property valued at $91,592.

Step 2: Comparing Market Rent to FMR

The average market rent in ZIP 17959, according to Census ACS data, is $823. This figure is below the FMR of $970. Landlords can expect to receive a higher rent from Section 8 tenants compared to the general rental market. The answer to the second question is No; the market rent is below the FMR.

Step 3: Assessing Rental Demand

In ZIP 17959, 22.3% of residents are renters. However, the Days on Market (DOM) is listed as N/A, indicating insufficient data to accurately assess how quickly rental properties are occupied. Despite this lack of data, the percentage of renters suggests a moderate demand for rental units. The answer to the third question is It Depends. While there is some rental demand, the absence of DOM data makes it challenging to gauge the speed of occupancy and the overall demand strength.

Decision Summary:

If you need to clear debt service with FMR, then Yes, the FMR of $970 is sufficient for a property valued at $91,592.
If you are concerned about market rent being competitive with FMR, then No, since the market rent of $823 is below the FMR.
If rental demand is your primary concern, the answer is It Depends. With 22.3% of residents being renters, there is demand, but the lack of DOM data means you cannot fully assess the speed of filling vacancies.

Note: These conclusions are based on the given data points and do not account for other factors such as property management costs, vacancy rates, or local economic conditions.

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.