HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Aroostook County, Maine (FY 2026)
$1,224 a month. That's HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Aroostook County, and it's the baseline every voucher in Aroostook is measured against.
2 bedroom FMR
$1,224
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$1,102 to $1,346
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$48,960
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Maine
16th of 16
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Aroostook moves to $1,175. That's down 4%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Aroostook actually rent for?
Search any address in Aroostook for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
FY 2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $942 | $848 to $1,036 | $37,680 | $18.12/hr | +29.0% |
| 1 bedroom | $949 | $854 to $1,044 | $37,960 | $18.25/hr | +20.7% |
| 2 bedroom | $1,224 | $1,102 to $1,346 | $48,960 | $23.54/hr | +24.1% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,672 | $1,505 to $1,839 | $66,880 | $32.15/hr | +23.8% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,739 | $1,565 to $1,913 | $69,560 | $33.44/hr | +23.6% |
5 to 8 bedrooms (PropMetrics estimates)
HUD stops at four bedrooms. These add 15% of the four-bedroom rent per extra bedroom. It's our estimate, not a HUD number.
| Bedrooms | Estimated FMR | Payment standard |
|---|---|---|
| 5 bedroom Estimate | $2,000 | $1,800 to $2,200 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $2,261 | $2,035 to $2,487 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $2,522 | $2,270 to $2,774 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,782 | $2,504 to $3,060 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Fair Market Rent is HUD's estimate of what a modest, decent unit rents for in an area, utilities included. It's set once a year and runs October to September. For FY 2026 that's October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. In Aroostook, that runs from $942 for a studio up to $1,739 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Aroostook sits outside any HUD metro area, its rate is a county-wide figure built from local rents. One number covers every address in the county, Limestone included.
Among Maine's 16 counties, Aroostook ranks 16th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 14% below the state median of $1,429 and about 20% above the national median county at $1,018. About 67,227 people live here, 6th in the state.
Rates by town
Maine publishes Fair Market Rents town by town instead of by county. All 71 towns in Aroostook County share the same rate for FY 2026, so the county number is the town number wherever you are.
| Town | Population | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Presque Isle city | 8,736 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Caribou city | 7,427 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Houlton town | 6,051 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Fort Kent town | 4,140 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Madawaska town | 3,855 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Fort Fairfield town | 3,321 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Mapleton town | 1,921 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Van Buren town | 1,836 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Limestone town | 1,556 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Mars Hill town | 1,515 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Hodgdon town | 1,447 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Easton town | 1,430 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Washburn town | 1,429 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Woodland town | 1,251 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Ashland town | 1,197 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Linneus town | 1,157 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| St. Agatha town | 942 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Frenchville town | 876 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Littleton town | 865 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Sherman town | 865 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Island Falls town | 840 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| South Aroostook UT | 766 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Blaine town | 737 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Monticello town | 681 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Oakfield town | 653 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Wallagrass town | 557 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Square Lake UT | 543 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Eagle Lake town | 533 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| New Sweden town | 517 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Bridgewater town | 485 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Ludlow town | 467 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Westfield town | 463 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| New Canada town | 431 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| New Limerick town | 430 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Connor UT | 423 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Grand Isle town | 416 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Smyrna town | 409 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Merrill town | 407 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| St. Francis town | 389 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Portage Lake town | 372 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Amity town | 342 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Chapman town | 317 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Perham town | 295 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Weston town | 289 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Caswell town | 278 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Crystal town | 275 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Winterville plantation | 269 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Masardis town | 259 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Wade town | 257 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Castle Hill town | 250 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Stockholm town | 222 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Allagash town | 213 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Central Aroostook UT | 197 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| St. John plantation | 193 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Dyer Brook town | 181 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Haynesville town | 136 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Orient town | 122 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Hamlin town | 120 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Reed plantation | 111 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Westmanland town | 107 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Garfield plantation | 76 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Bancroft UT | 75 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Hammond town | 75 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Hersey town | 68 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Macwahoc plantation | 64 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Cyr plantation | 62 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Moro plantation | 20 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Nashville plantation | 7 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Northwest Aroostook UT | 6 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Glenwood plantation | 5 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
| Penobscot Indian Island Reservation | 0 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 |
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $970 in 04746 (Grand Isle) and $1,600 in 04768 (Portage), with the 42 ZIP codes in between. Housing authorities in HUD-designated metros use those ZIP rates instead of the county rate. Everywhere else the ZIP numbers show where rents actually sit, and the county rate stays the official standard.
| ZIP | City | 2BR rate | vs county |
|---|---|---|---|
| 04471 | Orient | $1,160 | -5.2% |
| 04497 | Wytopitlock | $1,230 | +0.5% |
| 04730 | Houlton | $1,190 | -2.8% |
| 04732 | Ashland | $1,440 | +17.6% |
| 04733 | Benedicta | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04734 | Blaine | $1,150 | -6.0% |
| 04735 | Bridgewater | $1,090 | -10.9% |
| 04736 | Caribou | $1,140 | -6.9% |
| 04737 | Clayton Lake | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04738 | Crouseville | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04739 | Eagle Lake | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04740 | Easton | $1,110 | -9.3% |
| 04741 | Estcourt Station | $1,224County rate | — |
| 04742 | Fort Fairfield | $1,430 | +16.8% |
| 04743 | Fort Kent | $1,320 | +7.8% |
| 04744 | Fort Kent Mills | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04745 | Frenchville | $1,420 | +16.0% |
| 04746 | Grand Isle | $970 | -20.8% |
| 04747 | Island Falls | $1,350 | +10.3% |
| 04750 | Limestone | $1,410 | +15.2% |
| 04751 | Limestone | $1,224County rate | — |
| 04756 | Madawaska | $970 | -20.8% |
| 04757 | Mapleton | $1,500 | +22.5% |
| 04758 | Mars Hill | $1,130 | -7.7% |
| 04760 | Monticello | $1,260 | +2.9% |
| 04761 | New Limerick | $1,280 | +4.6% |
| 04762 | New Sweden | $1,340 | +9.5% |
| 04763 | Oakfield | $970 | -20.8% |
| 04764 | Oxbow | $1,430 | +16.8% |
| 04766 | Perham | $1,130 | -7.7% |
| 04768 | Portage | $1,600 | +30.7% |
| 04769 | Presque Isle | $1,320 | +7.8% |
| 04772 | Saint Agatha | $1,320 | +7.8% |
| 04773 | Saint David | $1,090 | -10.9% |
| 04774 | Saint Francis | $1,440 | +17.6% |
| 04775 | Sheridan | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04776 | Sherman | $1,220 | -0.3% |
| 04779 | Sinclair | $1,280 | +4.6% |
| 04780 | Smyrna Mills | $1,580 | +29.1% |
| 04781 | Wallagrass | $1,320 | +7.8% |
What a voucher pays here
The voucher doesn't pay the FMR itself. It pays the payment standard. Housing authorities set it anywhere from 90% to 110% of FMR, which puts a two-bedroom standard in Aroostook somewhere between $1,102 and $1,346. The tenant pays roughly 30% of their income, the voucher covers the rest up to the standard, and the PHA won't approve a rent above what comparable unassisted units get.
$1,224 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $48,960 a year. Put another way, $24 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom, assuming the rent equals the payment standard. Tenant pays 30% of monthly income, HUD's housing assistance payment covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | HAP at 90% ($1,102) | HAP at 100% ($1,224) | HAP at 110% ($1,346) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $352 | $474 | $596 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $24 | $146 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 24% from FY 2025 ($986) to FY 2026 ($1,224). Since FY 2020 it's up 71% in total, about 9.4% a year. The Maine median moved up 20% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $520 | $602 | $714 | $989 | $1,076 | — |
| FY 2021 | $492 | $605 | $734 | $992 | $1,140 | +2.8% |
| FY 2022 | $519 | $630 | $781 | $1,046 | $1,230 | +6.4% |
| FY 2023 | $562 | $672 | $841 | $1,117 | $1,266 | +7.7% |
| FY 2024 | $664 | $758 | $948 | $1,292 | $1,374 | +12.7% |
| FY 2025 | $730 | $786 | $986 | $1,351 | $1,407 | +4.0% |
| FY 2026 | $942 | $949 | $1,224 | $1,672 | $1,739 | +24.1% |
| FY 2027 | $892 | $898 | $1,175 | $1,581 | $1,642 | -4.0% |
Nearby counties
Piscataquis County
$1,419111 mi · pop 17,125
Penobscot County
$1,559114 mi · pop 153,571
Washington County
$1,252126 mi · pop 31,261
Somerset County
$1,266141 mi · pop 50,852
Waldo County
$1,438159 mi · pop 40,006
Hancock County
$1,501160 mi · pop 56,084
Franklin County
$1,322166 mi · pop 30,145
Kennebec County
$1,416176 mi · pop 125,614
Questions people ask
$1,224 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $942 for a studio, $949 for one bedroom, $1,672 for three and $1,739 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Look up any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count.
Section 8 rent calculator
Work out the payment standard and tenant share for a specific rent.
What is Fair Market Rent?
How HUD calculates FMR and what it means for landlords.
Rent affordability calculator
See what income a household needs for a given rent.
What does a rental in Aroostook actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Aroostook for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
Free tier. No credit card.