Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 18812 - 2027

Location: Susquehanna County, PA | Metro: Susquehanna County, PA

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$970
1 Bedroom	$1,020
2 Bedrooms	$1,320
3 Bedrooms	$1,730
4 Bedrooms	$1,810
5 Bedrooms	$2,100
6 Bedrooms	$2,352
7 Bedrooms	$2,540
8 Bedrooms	$2,667

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

1,537

Median Household Income

$89,688

Housing Units

959

Renter Percentage

11.1%

Occupancy Rate

65.8%

Renter Occupied

A landlord considering ZIP code 18812 for a Section 8 investment should follow this decision tree:

Step 1: Determine if the Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $1,300 can cover the debt service on a property valued at $278,056.

If the answer is yes, proceed to Step 2. The FMR is a critical benchmark because it represents the maximum amount that a Section 8 tenant can pay towards rent. For a property priced at $278,056, if the monthly mortgage payment plus other expenses do not exceed $1,300, then the FMR clears debt service.

Step 2: Compare the market rent of $1,068 to the FMR.

If the market rent is below the FMR, landlords can charge the higher FMR rate, which means they can fully leverage the Section 8 program to maximize their rental income.
If the market rent equals the FMR, landlords can still use the program effectively without leaving money on the table.
If the market rent is above the FMR, landlords would need to consider whether the difference between market rates and the FMR is significant enough to impact their investment strategy negatively.

Step 3: Evaluate the demand factors.

The percentage of renters at 11.1% and the Days on Market (DOM) being listed as N/A suggest that there is limited data on how quickly rental properties are leased in this area. However, given the rental percentage, there is a notable demand for rental housing. If the DOM were available and relatively low, it would indicate strong demand, supporting a positive investment decision. Since the DOM is not specified, the analysis hinges on the other factors.

Decision Outcome:

Yes: If the FMR of $1,300 exceeds the debt service costs and the market rent is below or equal to the FMR, then ZIP 18812 is a viable option for Section 8 investments, especially with the presence of 11.1% renters indicating demand.
No: If the FMR does not cover debt service or if the market rent significantly exceeds the FMR, making it difficult to attract Section 8 tenants, then investing in this ZIP code would not be advisable.
It Depends: With the lack of DOM data, landlords must consider other local market indicators such as vacancy rates, economic growth, and job opportunities. These additional factors will help determine if the demand is sufficient to support a Section 8 investment despite the incomplete data.

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.