Fair Market Rents: Merced County, CA (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Merced County set the ceiling for what Housing Choice Vouchers pay locally. FMR equals the estimated 40th-percentile gross rent — shelter plus utilities — for modest, non-luxury units.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR |
|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | — |
| 1 Bedroom | — |
| 2 Bedrooms | — |
| 3 Bedrooms | — |
| 4+ Bedrooms | — |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in CA. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Merced County
- Your housing authority sets payment standards per bedroom, typically 90–110% of these figures. How payment standards work →
- You may rent above the standard by paying the difference, subject to a 40%-of-income cap at lease-up.
- In high-cost pockets, ask about exception standards or Small Area FMRs by ZIP code.
Subsidized housing in Merced County
We track 47 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Dos Palos | 3 | 152 |
| Livingston | 5 | 301 |
| Los Banos | 9 | 661 |
| Merced | 28 | 1,916 |