Fair Market Rents: Penobscot County, ME (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Penobscot 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 | ME median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $982/mo | $1,105 (-11%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,061/mo | $1,163 (-9%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $1,392/mo | $1,419 (-2%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $1,799/mo | $1,865 (-4%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $2,010/mo | $2,055 (-2%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in ME. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Penobscot 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 Penobscot County
We track 4,623 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Bangor | 29 | 1,519 |
| Brewer | 7 | 325 |
| Howland | 3 | 37 |
| Lincoln | 4 | 70 |
| Millinocket | 5 | 103 |
| Newport | 3 | 74 |
| Old Town | 8 | 312 |
| Orono | 4 | 105 |