Section 8 Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 66419 - 2027

Location: Topeka, KS | Metro: Topeka, KS MSA

FY 2027 Fair Market Rent Rates

Unit Size	Monthly FMR
Studio	$770
1 Bedroom	$810
2 Bedrooms	$1,040
3 Bedrooms	$1,390
4 Bedrooms	$1,420
5 Bedrooms	$1,647
6 Bedrooms	$1,845
7 Bedrooms	$1,993
8 Bedrooms	$2,093

Demographics & Housing Statistics

U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)

Population

600

Median Household Income

$100,152

Housing Units

228

Renter Percentage

26.0%

Occupancy Rate

89.5%

Renter Occupied

The economics of Section 8 in ZIP 66419 are straightforward. For a two-bedroom apartment, the SAFMR (Small Area Fair Market Rent) for FY 2024 is set at $990. This figure is specific to this ZIP code and reflects the rental rate deemed fair for subsidized housing in the area. In contrast, the local market rent, according to the Census ACS, is lower at $898.

A landlord participating in the Section 8 program will receive payments based on the voucher system. Here's how it works:

The voucher holder pays 30% of their adjusted income towards rent. If we assume an average adjusted income of $1,650 per month, the tenant would pay approximately $495 towards rent.
The remaining balance is covered by the housing authority up to the SAFMR. For ZIP 66419, this would be $990 minus the tenant's contribution, which equals $495 in this case.
Utility allowances vary but can add up to $200 or more to the total reimbursement, depending on the actual utility costs incurred by the tenant.

In ZIP 66419, landlords can expect the total reimbursement to be around $990, assuming the tenant's portion plus utilities reaches this amount. Given the local market rent of $898, there is a surplus of $92 for a two-bedroom unit. This means that landlords can collect slightly more than the average market rent when they have a tenant using a Section 8 voucher, provided the tenant's portion and utility allowances fill the gap between the market rent and the SAFMR.

However, it's important to note that the actual reimbursement may vary if the tenant's portion is less than the difference between the market rent and the SAFMR. In such cases, the landlord might not fully recover the market rent, creating a reimbursement gap.

To summarize, in ZIP 66419, the typical reimbursement for a two-bedroom apartment under Section 8 is $990, leading to a surplus over the local market rent of $898, specifically $92. This surplus can provide landlords with a bit more financial cushion compared to standard market rents.

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.