Location: McDowell County, WV | Metro: McDowell County, WV
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $710 |
| 1 Bedroom | $720 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $940 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,250 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,250 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,450 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $1,624 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $1,754 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $1,842 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
The economics of Section 8 in ZIP code 24836 are defined by the SAFMR (Small Area Fair Market Rent) rates established by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For fiscal year 2026, the SAFMR for a two-bedroom apartment in this ZIP code is set at $870 per month. This figure represents the maximum amount that HUD will reimburse landlords for renting out their units under the Section 8 program.
To understand how this works for landlords, it's important to break down the components of the voucher payment. The tenant is responsible for paying a portion of the rent, which is typically around 30% of their income. On top of this base rent, there are utility allowances. These allowances vary but are designed to cover reasonable costs for utilities such as electricity, water, and gas. HUD calculates these allowances based on average utility costs in the area.
The actual reimbursement a landlord receives from a Section 8 voucher depends on the tenant's income and the utility allowance. For example, if a tenant's income is $1,500 per month, they would pay about $450 towards the rent ($1,500 x 0.3 = $450). If the utility allowance for ZIP 24836 is $100, then the total reimbursement from HUD would be $970 ($870 rent + $100 utilities).
In this scenario, the landlord would receive the $450 directly from the tenant and the $970 from HUD, totaling $1,420. However, since the SAFMR is capped at $870 for the rent component, the landlord cannot charge the tenant more than this amount. Therefore, the landlord would receive the full $870 for rent plus the utility allowance, making the total reimbursement $970.
Given that the local market rent is not available, we can only compare against the SAFMR. If the market rent were higher than $870, landlords might face a shortfall between the market rate and the reimbursement rate. Conversely, if the market rent is lower, landlords could see a surplus. In ZIP 24836, the SAFMR of $870 sets a clear benchmark for landlords considering participation in the Section 8 program.
The typical reimbursement gap or surplus for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 24836, assuming the local market rent is below or above the SAFMR, would be the difference between the market rate and $870. Since the local market rent is currently unavailable, landlords should monitor market conditions closely to determine whether participating in Section 8 would result in a surplus or a shortfall.
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.