Location: Niobrara County, WY | Metro: Converse County, WY
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 | $820 |
| 1 Bedroom | $820 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,070 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,470 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $1,770 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $2,053 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2,299 |
| 7 Bedrooms | $2,483 |
| 8 Bedrooms | $2,607 |
Zillow median home prices vs Section 8 FMR rates (Data: 2026-08-31)
| Bedrooms | Monthly FMR | Median Price | 1% Rule | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $820 | $258,914 | 0.32% | F |
| 2BR | $1,070 | $254,978 | 0.42% | F |
| 3BR | $1,470 | $331,179 | 0.44% | F |
| 4BR | $1,770 | $369,694 | 0.48% | F |
| 5BR | $2,053 | $447,755 | 0.46% | F |
U.S. Census Bureau data (2024)
A landlord considering investing in ZIP code 82633 (Douglas, WY) for Section 8 properties must follow a decision tree based on the financial metrics and market conditions.
Step 1: The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for ZIP 82633 is set at $990 per month for the fiscal year 2026. To determine if this clears the debt service on a property valued at $308,968, calculate the monthly mortgage payment. Assuming a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at an average interest rate of 4%, the monthly payment would be approximately $1,488. Therefore, the FMR of $990 does not cover the debt service, leading to a no on purchasing for Section 8 purposes.
If the landlord decides to proceed despite the FMR not covering the debt service, they must evaluate the following steps:
To summarize, the primary gatekeeping question is whether the FMR can cover the debt service. Since $990 FMR does not clear the $1,488 estimated debt service, the recommendation is a no. Even if a landlord ignores this first step, the lack of complete data on DOM means that demand cannot be conclusively determined, resulting in a cautious it depends.
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.