HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2027 · Effective Oct 1, 2026 to Sep 30, 2027
Fair Market Rent in Worcester County, Massachusetts (FY 2027)
A two-bedroom in Worcester County carries a FY 2027 Fair Market Rent of $2,057 a month, effective October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Everything Section 8 pays in Worcester keys off that figure.
Two-bedroom FMR
$2,057
+3.0% from FY 2026
Payment standard
$1,851–$2,263
90% to 110% of the FMR, two-bedroom
Income to afford
$82,280
a year, with rent at 30% of income
Rank in Massachusetts
8th of 14
by two-bedroom FMR, highest first
FY 2027 Fair Market Rents
Payment standard is the 90% to 110% band a housing authority can set. Income needed puts rent at 30% of gross income, and the hourly wage assumes a 40-hour week.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard | Income needed | Hourly wage | vs FY 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,541 | $1,387–$1,695 | $61,640 | $29.63/hr | +3.2% |
| 1 bedroom | $1,611 | $1,450–$1,772 | $64,440 | $30.98/hr | +3.4% |
| 2 bedroom | $2,057 | $1,851–$2,263 | $82,280 | $39.56/hr | +3.0% |
| 3 bedroom | $2,624 | $2,362–$2,886 | $104,960 | $50.46/hr | +3.6% |
| 4 bedroom | $2,988 | $2,689–$3,287 | $119,520 | $57.46/hr | +5.0% |
Five to eight 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 | $3,436 | $3,092–$3,780 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $3,884 | $3,496–$4,272 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $4,333 | $3,900–$4,766 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $4,781 | $4,303–$5,259 |
Source: HUD Office of Policy Development and Research, FY 2027 Fair Market Rents. Rents include utilities. huduser.gov
Rates by town
Massachusetts publishes Fair Market Rents town by town instead of by county. The 60 towns in Worcester County don't all get the same number. Two-bedroom rates run from $1,659 to $2,499 depending on the town, so the headline figure above is a population-weighted average and the town table is the one to use.
| Town | Population | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester city | 207,055 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Leominster city | 43,909 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Fitchburg city | 41,798 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Shrewsbury town | 38,876 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Milford townHighest | 30,431 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Westborough town | 21,944 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Gardner city | 21,148 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Holden town | 20,064 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Grafton town | 19,902 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Southbridge Town city | 17,928 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Webster town | 17,748 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Auburn town | 16,970 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Northbridge town | 16,458 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Northborough town | 15,750 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Clinton town | 15,563 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Uxbridge town | 14,473 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Millbury town | 13,961 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Charlton town | 13,435 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Oxford town | 13,385 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Athol townLowest | 12,011 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| Spencer town | 12,008 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Dudley town | 11,929 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Lunenburg town | 11,902 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Leicester town | 11,113 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Southborough town | 10,493 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Winchendon town | 10,440 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Sturbridge town | 9,960 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Sutton town | 9,452 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Rutland town | 9,353 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Blackstone town | 9,255 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Douglas town | 9,207 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Lancaster town | 8,606 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Westminster town | 8,374 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Templeton town | 8,252 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Upton town | 8,189 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Sterling town | 8,183 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| West Boylston town | 7,782 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Harvard town | 6,927 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Ashburnham town | 6,415 | $1,323 | $1,571 | $1,900 | $2,419 | $2,828 |
| Mendon town | 6,325 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Hopedale town | 6,027 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Bolton town | 5,737 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Barre town | 5,572 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Warren town | 5,009 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| Paxton town | 5,002 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Boylston town | 4,948 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| North Brookfield town | 4,760 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Hubbardston town | 4,371 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| West Brookfield town | 3,859 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Princeton town | 3,529 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Brookfield town | 3,460 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Berlin town | 3,378 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Millville town | 3,160 | $1,740 | $1,910 | $2,499 | $3,424 | $3,736 |
| Hardwick town | 2,684 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| East Brookfield town | 2,166 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Phillipston town | 1,895 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| Oakham town | 1,639 | $1,577 | $1,587 | $2,043 | $2,560 | $2,915 |
| Royalston town | 1,460 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| Petersham town | 1,185 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
| New Braintree town | 973 | $1,280 | $1,288 | $1,659 | $2,297 | $2,773 |
Market check
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Worcester actually rent for?
Search any address in Worcester for a rent estimate built from nearby comps, with the HUD figure right next to it.
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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 Worcester somewhere between $1,851 and $2,263. 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.
$2,057 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $82,280 a year. Put another way, $40 an hour full time.
Worked example for a two-bedroom renting at the payment standard. The tenant pays 30% of monthly income and the voucher covers the rest.
| Monthly household income | Tenant pays (30%) | Voucher pays at 90%$1,851 | Voucher pays at 100%$2,057 | Voucher pays at 110%$2,263 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $1,101 | $1,307 | $1,513 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $651 | $857 | $1,063 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 3% from FY 2026 ($1,997) to FY 2027 ($2,057). Since FY 2020 it's up 58% in total, about 6.7% a year. The Massachusetts median held flat over the same year.
| Fiscal year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $950 | $1,017 | $1,306 | $1,635 | $1,809 | — |
| FY 2021 | $983 | $1,042 | $1,344 | $1,678 | $1,875 | +2.9% |
| FY 2022 | $1,029 | $1,085 | $1,402 | $1,750 | $1,969 | +4.3% |
| FY 2023 | $1,164 | $1,219 | $1,575 | $1,967 | $2,211 | +12.3% |
| FY 2024 | $1,234 | $1,291 | $1,663 | $2,089 | $2,328 | +5.6% |
| FY 2025 | $1,362 | $1,424 | $1,829 | $2,310 | $2,580 | +10.0% |
| FY 2026 | $1,493 | $1,558 | $1,997 | $2,534 | $2,846 | +9.2% |
| FY 2027In effect | $1,541 | $1,611 | $2,057 | $2,624 | $2,988 | +3.0% |
About this rate
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 2027 that's October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. In Worcester, that runs from $1,541 for a studio up to $2,988 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Worcester is its own HUD metro area (Worcester, MA), so the rate here is set from rents inside the county rather than a wider region.
Among Massachusetts's 14 counties, Worcester ranks 8th for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 10% below the state median of $2,273 and about 94% above the national median county at $1,063. About 867,788 people live here, 2nd in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $1,440 in 01092 (West Warren) and $3,400 in 01772 (Southborough), with the 96 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01005 | Barre | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01031 | Gilbertville | $1,810 | -12.0% |
| 01037 | Hardwick | $1,710 | -16.9% |
| 01068 | Oakham | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01074 | South Barre | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01083 | Warren | $1,770 | -14.0% |
| 01092 | West Warren | $1,440 | -30.0% |
| 01094 | Wheelwright | $1,910 | -7.1% |
| 01331 | Athol | $1,680 | -18.3% |
| 01366 | Petersham | $2,010 | -2.3% |
| 01368 | Royalston | $1,980 | -3.7% |
| 01420 | Fitchburg | $1,790 | -13.0% |
| 01430 | Ashburnham | $2,360 | +14.7% |
| 01434 | Devens | $2,650 | +28.8% |
| 01436 | Baldwinville | $1,840 | -10.5% |
| 01438 | East Templeton | $1,980 | -3.7% |
| 01440 | Gardner | $1,690 | -17.8% |
| 01441 | Westminster | $2,160 | +5.0% |
| 01451 | Harvard | $2,650 | +28.8% |
| 01452 | Hubbardston | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01453 | Leominster | $2,020 | -1.8% |
| 01462 | Lunenburg | $2,840 | +38.1% |
| 01467 | Still River | $2,120 | +3.1% |
| 01468 | Templeton | $2,030 | -1.3% |
| 01473 | Westminster | $2,650 | +28.8% |
| 01475 | Winchendon | $1,900 | -7.6% |
| 01501 | Auburn | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01503 | Berlin | $2,840 | +38.1% |
| 01504 | Blackstone | $2,650 | +28.8% |
| 01505 | Boylston | $2,550 | +24.0% |
| 01506 | Brookfield | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01507 | Charlton | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01508 | Charlton City | $1,980 | -3.7% |
| 01509 | Charlton Depot | $1,980 | -3.7% |
| 01510 | Clinton | $1,950 | -5.2% |
| 01515 | East Brookfield | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01516 | Douglas | $2,120 | +3.1% |
| 01518 | Fiskdale | $1,860 | -9.6% |
| 01519 | Grafton | $2,810 | +36.6% |
| 01520 | Holden | $2,430 | +18.1% |
Nearby counties
Two-bedroom FMR, with how each compares to Worcester.
Middlesex County
30 mi · 1,638,365 people
$2,884
+40%
Norfolk County
36 mi · 730,082 people
$3,004
+46%
Hampden County
39 mi · 462,815 people
$1,800
-12%
Suffolk County
41 mi · 785,121 people
$3,008
+46%
Franklin County
42 mi · 70,944 people
$1,882
-9%
Hampshire County
42 mi · 162,028 people
$2,034
-1%
Essex County
51 mi · 813,054 people
$2,761
+34%
Bristol County
52 mi · 582,270 people
$1,928
-6%
Questions people ask
$2,057 a month for FY 2027, which runs October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. The other rates are $1,541 for a studio, $1,611 for one bedroom, $2,624 for three and $2,988 for four.
Tools for this county
Fair Market Rent lookup
Any ZIP code's Small Area FMR by bedroom count
Section 8 rent calculator
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
The income a household needs for a given rent
What does a rental in Worcester actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Worcester for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. Free to start, no card.
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