Fair Market Rents: Worcester County, MA (FY2026)
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rents for Worcester 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 | MA median* |
|---|---|---|
| Studio (0-BR) | $1,588/mo | $1,631 (-3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,599/mo | $1,761 (-9%) |
| 2 Bedrooms | $2,056/mo | $2,311 (-11%) |
| 3 Bedrooms | $2,548/mo | $2,980 (-14%) |
| 4+ Bedrooms | $2,825/mo | $3,164 (-11%) |
*Median across all FMR-publishing counties in MA. Source: HUD FY2026 FMR schedule.
Using FMR as a voucher holder in Worcester 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 Worcester County
We track 11,100 assisted properties countywide:
| City | Properties | Assisted units |
|---|---|---|
| Athol | 7 | 241 |
| Auburn | 3 | 188 |
| Clinton | 4 | 351 |
| Fitchburg | 14 | 762 |
| Gardner | 8 | 876 |
| Leominster | 6 | 928 |
| Lunenburg | 3 | 161 |
| Oxford | 3 | 584 |
| Webster | 8 | 534 |
| Whitinsville | 3 | 138 |
| Winchendon | 3 | 203 |
| Worcester | 88 | 8,971 |