Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 25309 - 2027

Location: Charleston, WV | Metro: Charleston, WV HUD Metro FMR Area

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$660
1 Bedroom	$760
2 Bedrooms	$940
3 Bedrooms	$1,200
4 Bedrooms	$1,250
5 Bedrooms	$1,450
6 Bedrooms	$1,624
7 Bedrooms	$1,754
8 Bedrooms	$1,842

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

12,154

Median Household Income

$57,937

Housing Units

6,039

Renter Percentage

28.8%

Occupancy Rate

90.3%

Renter Occupied

1,571

Housing Authorities Serving ZIP 25309

Charleston/Kanawha Housing Authority (Charleston, WV) - 3,213 Section 8 vouchers
Housing Authority of the City of South Charleston (South Charleston, WV)
Housing Authority of the City of Dunbar (Dunbar, WV)
Housing Authority of the City of St. Albans (Saint Albans, WV)

The economics of Section 8 in ZIP code 25309, South Charleston, WV, are straightforward. The SAFMR (Small Area Fair Market Rent) for a two-bedroom apartment is set at $860 per month for fiscal year 2024. This SAFMR is specific to this ZIP code, meaning it reflects the rental rates deemed fair for this particular area.

Local market rents for a similar two-bedroom unit run at $773 per month according to the latest Census ACS data. Landlords might wonder how much they can realistically expect to receive when a tenant uses a Section 8 voucher. Here's the breakdown:

Tenant Portion: Typically, tenants must pay 30% of their adjusted income towards rent. If we assume an average adjusted income of $1,400, the tenant would contribute approximately $420.
Voucher Reimbursement: The voucher will cover the difference between the tenant's contribution and the SAFMR, which in this case is $860 minus $420, equaling $440. However, the total reimbursement also includes utility allowances.
Utility Allowances: These vary but generally add around $200 to the monthly reimbursement. Therefore, the total reimbursement a landlord can expect is roughly $640 per month.

This means that for a two-bedroom apartment, the landlord would receive a combined total of $1,060 ($420 from the tenant and $640 from the voucher program), which is above the local market rent of $773. In ZIP 25309, landlords can expect a surplus of about $287 per month on average, when comparing the total reimbursement received against the local market rent for a two-bedroom unit.

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.