Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 44402 - 2027

Location: Youngstown-Warren, OH | Metro: Youngstown-Warren, OH MSA

Investment Score for ZIP 44402

Monthly Rent (2BR)

$1,020

Median Price (2BR)

$185,724

1% Rule

0.55%

Annual Yield

6.59%

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	$770
1 Bedroom	$810
2 Bedrooms	$1,020
3 Bedrooms	$1,320
4 Bedrooms	$1,390
5 Bedrooms	$1,612
6 Bedrooms	$1,805
7 Bedrooms	$1,949
8 Bedrooms	$2,046

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
2BR	$1,020	$185,724	0.55%	F
3BR	$1,320	$251,755	0.52%	F
4BR	$1,390	$322,278	0.43%	F

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

2,613

Median Household Income

$75,539

Housing Units

1,162

Renter Percentage

11.3%

Occupancy Rate

90.1%

Renter Occupied

118

A decision tree for evaluating whether to invest in ZIP 44402 (Bristolville, OH) for Section 8 properties starts with three key questions based on the provided data points.

1. Does FMR $860 (zip FY 2024) clear debt service on a $233,523 property?

No: The Fair Market Rent (FMR) of $860 is insufficient to cover the average debt service costs associated with a property valued at $233,523. Debt service typically includes mortgage payments, insurance, taxes, and maintenance. At this valuation, landlords would need higher rental income to break even, making Section 8 less attractive unless they can find ways to reduce costs or increase occupancy rates.

2. Is market rent $645 (Census ACS) above, at, or below FMR?

No: The market rent of $645 is below the FMR of $860, indicating that landlords could potentially charge more for their units if they are not participating in the Section 8 program. This suggests that there might be better opportunities to maximize rental income without relying on government subsidies.

3. Are 11.3% renters + N/A-day DOM enough demand?

It Depends: With only 11.3% of the population being renters, the demand for rental properties is relatively low. However, the lack of data on days on market (DOM) makes it difficult to assess how quickly rental units are occupied once listed. If the DOM is short, it could indicate strong local demand despite the lower percentage of renters. Conversely, if the DOM is long, it suggests a weak rental market where finding tenants could be challenging.

In summary, ZIP 44402 presents a scenario where the FMR does not sufficiently cover debt service costs on a typical property, and the market rent is below the FMR, suggesting potential for higher rents outside of Section 8. The low percentage of renters raises concerns about demand, but the absence of DOM data means this cannot be conclusively assessed. Landlords must weigh these factors carefully, possibly seeking additional local market insights or considering alternative investment strategies that do not rely solely on Section 8 tenancy.

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.