Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 18610 - 2027

Location: Monroe County, PA | Metro: Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA MSA

Investment Score for ZIP 18610

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,510

Median Price (2BR)

$208,125

1% Rule

0.73%

Annual Yield

8.71%

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	$1,170
1 Bedroom	$1,240
2 Bedrooms	$1,510
3 Bedrooms	$2,020
4 Bedrooms	$2,370
5 Bedrooms	$2,749
6 Bedrooms	$3,079
7 Bedrooms	$3,325
8 Bedrooms	$3,491

Investment Analysis by Bedroom Size

Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-07-31)

Bedrooms	Monthly FMR	Median Price	1% Rule	Grade
2BR	$1,510	$208,125	0.73%	D
3BR	$2,020	$302,158	0.67%	D
4BR	$2,370	$374,948	0.63%	D

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

5,079

Median Household Income

$67,656

Housing Units

2,361

Renter Percentage

8.0%

Occupancy Rate

65.8%

Renter Occupied

125

To determine if you should invest in ZIP 18610 (Blakeslee, PA) for Section 8 properties, follow this decision tree:

1) Does FMR $1260 (zip FY 2024) clear debt service on a $310,018 property?

No. The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 18610 in fiscal year 2024 is set at $1260 per month. For a property valued at $310,018, the debt service would typically exceed this amount, making it unfeasible without additional subsidies or income sources.

2) Is market rent N/A (N/A) above, at, or below FMR?

It depends. There is no data available for the market rent in ZIP 18610. Without this information, it's impossible to compare market rents against the FMR of $1260. However, if market rents are below FMR, then Section 8 might be a viable option. Conversely, if market rents are significantly higher, non-Section 8 tenants might offer better financial returns.

3) Are 8.0% renters + N/A-day DOM enough demand?

It depends. With 8.0% of the population being renters, there is a modest rental market presence. However, the lack of data on days on market (DOM) makes it difficult to assess the speed at which units are rented. If the DOM is low, indicating quick tenancy, then the rental demand could support a Section 8 investment. High DOM values would suggest a less favorable market for such investments.

In conclusion, ZIP 18610 presents challenges due to the FMR not covering debt service on a $310,018 property and the absence of key data points such as market rent and DOM. Before proceeding, gather more detailed local market information to make an informed decision. If market rents are below FMR and DOM is low, the investment may be worth considering despite the initial FMR shortfall. Otherwise, look for other ZIP codes where the FMR better aligns with debt service requirements and where there is a stronger demand for rental properties.

Data Sources: FMR data from HUD (2027). Median home prices from Zillow (2026-07-31). 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.