Location: Washington County, OH | Metro: Athens County, OH
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $1,030 |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,090 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,240 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,540 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,660 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,926 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,157 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,330 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,447 |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
In ZIP 45711, the economics of Section 8 housing are defined by the SAFMR (Small Area Fair Market Rent) set at $1,170 for a two-bedroom apartment in fiscal year 2026. This figure represents the maximum amount that the Housing Choice Voucher program will pay for rent in this specific ZIP code. In comparison, the local market rent for a similar unit stands at $1,111 according to the latest Census ACS data.
A landlord participating in the Section 8 program should understand how the total rental payment is calculated. The voucher payment is made up of two parts: the tenant's contribution and the government subsidy. Tenants are generally required to pay 30% of their adjusted income towards rent. Utility allowances are also part of the calculation but are separate from the base rent. These allowances vary based on location and household size, and they cover costs such as electricity, gas, water, and sewage.
The SAFMR of $1,170 is the ceiling for the government subsidy. If the market rent is below this amount, the voucher will cover the full market rent, up to the tenant's contribution. For instance, if the local market rent is $1,111 and the tenant's portion is $300, the government would pay the difference, which is $811, making the total reimbursement $1,111. However, if the market rent exceeds the SAFMR, landlords must accept the SAFMR as the maximum rent covered by the voucher, plus the tenant's contribution and utility allowances.
To illustrate, if a landlord sets the rent at $1,200 for a two-bedroom apartment, the government would still only pay up to $1,170, plus the tenant's share and any applicable utility allowances. Therefore, the landlord might receive less than the set rent, depending on the tenant's income and the utility allowance. If the tenant's contribution is $300 and the utility allowance is $150, the total reimbursement would be $1,620 ($1,170 + $300 + $150), leaving a surplus for the landlord if the rent is set below this amount.
Conversely, if the landlord sets the rent at $1,111, and the tenant's contribution is $300, the reimbursement gap would be zero since the government subsidy plus the tenant's share equals the market rent. In ZIP 45711, landlords typically see a surplus when renting out a two-bedroom apartment under the Section 8 program due to the SAFMR being higher than the average market rent. This surplus is the difference between the SAFMR and the actual market rent, ensuring landlords are compensated above the local average.
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.