Location: Osborne County, KS | Metro: Osborne County, KS
Based on 1% Rule: A+ (≥1.5%) | A (≥1.2%) | B (≥1.0%) | C (≥0.8%) | D (≥0.6%) | F (<0.6%)
| Unit Size | Monthly FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio | $760 |
| 1 Bedroom | $800 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,030 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,380 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,520 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1,763 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $1,975 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,133 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,240 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $1,030 | $69,116 | 1.49% | A |
| 3BR | $1,380 | $127,658 | 1.08% | B |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
When considering whether to invest in ZIP code 67473 (Osborne, KS) for Section 8 properties, follow this decision tree based on the provided data.
Step 1: The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for the metro area in fiscal year 2026 is set at $920. Determine if this amount can cover the debt service on a property valued at $96,990. If the debt service is less than $920, proceed to Step 2. Otherwise, do not invest in this ZIP code as the FMR does not sufficiently cover the debt service.
Step 2: Compare the market rent of $579 (as per Census ACS data) to the FMR of $920. In this case, the market rent is below the FMR. This suggests that Section 8 tenants would be able to afford higher rents than what the market currently dictates, potentially making such properties more attractive to landlords.
Step 3: Assess the rental demand in Osborne, KS. The rental rate is 26.0%, indicating that a quarter of the population are renters. However, the Days on Market (DOM) data is listed as N/A, which means there is insufficient information to determine how quickly properties are rented out. Given the limited data on DOM, focus on the percentage of renters as an indicator of demand. With 26.0% of the population renting, there is moderate demand for rental properties. If you can secure a property at a price point where the $920 FMR covers your debt service, and you believe the local rental market will support Section 8 tenancy, then it is reasonable to proceed with investment.
If you find that the debt service exceeds the FMR, or if you assess that the rental demand is too low despite the favorable FMR-to-market rent comparison, the answer is no. Do not invest in ZIP code 67473 for Section 8 properties. If the debt service is covered by the FMR and the rental demand appears sufficient, the answer is yes. Invest in this ZIP code for Section 8 properties.
It depends when there's uncertainty about the rental market's speed of absorption due to the lack of DOM data. In this scenario, consider additional local factors, such as job availability, school quality, and community stability, before making a final decision.
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.