HUD Fair Market Rent · FY 2026 · effective Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026
Fair Market Rent in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania (FY 2026)
A two-bedroom in Northumberland County carries a FY 2026 Fair Market Rent of $973 a month, effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. Everything Section 8 pays in Northumberland keys off that figure.
2 bedroom FMR
$973
FY 2026, utilities included
Payment standard range
$876 to $1,070
90% to 110% of FMR
Income to afford 2BR
$38,920
per year, at 30% of income
Rank in Pennsylvania
62nd of 67
by 2BR FMR
HUD has already published FY 2027. On October 1, 2026 the two-bedroom rate in Northumberland moves to $1,014. That's up 4%. The full FY 2027 table is in the history section below.
HUD's number is one input. What does a two-bedroom in Northumberland actually rent for?
Search any address in Northumberland 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 | $671 | $604 to $738 | $26,840 | $12.90/hr | +7.7% |
| 1 bedroom | $843 | $759 to $927 | $33,720 | $16.21/hr | +9.8% |
| 2 bedroom | $973 | $876 to $1,070 | $38,920 | $18.71/hr | +7.2% |
| 3 bedroom | $1,241 | $1,117 to $1,365 | $49,640 | $23.87/hr | +8.9% |
| 4 bedroom | $1,288 | $1,159 to $1,417 | $51,520 | $24.77/hr | +7.0% |
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 | $1,481 | $1,333 to $1,629 |
| 6 bedroom Estimate | $1,674 | $1,507 to $1,841 |
| 7 bedroom Estimate | $1,868 | $1,681 to $2,055 |
| 8 bedroom Estimate | $2,061 | $1,855 to $2,267 |
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 Northumberland, that runs from $671 for a studio up to $1,288 for four bedrooms, all five rates in the table above.
Because Northumberland 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, Dalmatia included.
Among Pennsylvania's 67 counties, Northumberland ranks 62nd for two-bedroom FMR. That's about 14% below the state median of $1,138 and about 4% below the national median county at $1,018. About 91,340 people live here, 32nd in the state.
Rates by ZIP code
Zoom in and the picture changes. HUD's Small Area FMRs put a two-bedroom at $970 in 17801 (Sunbury) and $1,150 in 17823 (Dornsife), with the 24 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17017 | Dalmatia | $1,040 | +6.9% |
| 17730 | Dewart | $990 | +1.7% |
| 17749 | Mc Ewensville | $1,020 | +4.8% |
| 17772 | Turbotville | $1,110 | +14.1% |
| 17777 | Watsontown | $1,110 | +14.1% |
| 17801 | Sunbury | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17823 | Dornsife | $1,150 | +18.2% |
| 17824 | Elysburg | $1,110 | +14.1% |
| 17830 | Herndon | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17832 | Marion Heights | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17834 | Kulpmont | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17836 | Leck Kill | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17840 | Locust Gap | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17847 | Milton | $1,110 | +14.1% |
| 17850 | Montandon | $1,080 | +11.0% |
| 17851 | Mount Carmel | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17857 | Northumberland | $1,110 | +14.1% |
| 17860 | Paxinos | $1,010 | +3.8% |
| 17865 | Potts Grove | $1,080 | +11.0% |
| 17866 | Coal Township | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17867 | Rebuck | $1,150 | +18.2% |
| 17868 | Riverside | $1,050 | +7.9% |
| 17872 | Shamokin | $970 | -0.3% |
| 17877 | Snydertown | $973County rate | — |
| 17881 | Trevorton | $970 | -0.3% |
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 Northumberland somewhere between $876 and $1,070. 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.
$973 a month is affordable, by HUD's 30% rule, on an income of roughly $38,920 a year. Put another way, $19 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% ($876) | HAP at 100% ($973) | HAP at 110% ($1,070) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $2,500 | $750 | $126 | $223 | $320 |
| $4,000 | $1,200 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
Rate history
The two-bedroom rate went up 7% from FY 2025 ($908) to FY 2026 ($973). Since FY 2020 it's up 36% in total, about 5.3% a year. The Pennsylvania median moved up 7% over the same year.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2BR change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2020 | $491 | $554 | $714 | $906 | $1,005 | — |
| FY 2021 | $495 | $561 | $724 | $902 | $1,007 | +1.4% |
| FY 2022 | $548 | $581 | $757 | $936 | $1,027 | +4.6% |
| FY 2023 | $579 | $641 | $821 | $999 | $1,103 | +8.5% |
| FY 2024 | $608 | $688 | $845 | $1,034 | $1,125 | +2.9% |
| FY 2025 | $623 | $768 | $908 | $1,140 | $1,204 | +7.5% |
| FY 2026 | $671 | $843 | $973 | $1,241 | $1,288 | +7.2% |
| FY 2027 | $729 | $899 | $1,014 | $1,320 | $1,408 | +4.2% |
Nearby counties
Montour County
$1,3729 mi · pop 18,165
Columbia County
$1,14019 mi · pop 64,924
Union County
$1,00119 mi · pop 42,908
Snyder County
$1,05920 mi · pop 39,797
Schuylkill County
$1,03026 mi · pop 143,201
Lycoming County
$1,19535 mi · pop 114,022
Dauphin County
$1,49337 mi · pop 286,108
Lebanon County
$1,41140 mi · pop 143,258
Questions people ask
$973 a month for FY 2026, which runs October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. The other rates are $671 for a studio, $843 for one bedroom, $1,241 for three and $1,288 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 Northumberland actually go for?
HUD's number is one input. Search any address in Northumberland for a rent estimate built from nearby comps. 3 free searches, no card.
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