Section 8 in Worcester, MA: FMR & Landlord Guide
Worcester, MA metro area (CBSA 49340). FY2026 Fair Market Rents, active voucher counts, housing authorities and wait-list status, and source-of-income law. Every figure below links back to its source.
Fair Market Rent by bedroom count
HUD-published metro FMR for FY2026. Payment standards (what a PHA actually pays) are set between 90% and 110% of FMR at PHA discretion.
| Bedrooms | FMR | Payment standard (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (studio) | $1,096 | $986 – $1,206 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,200 | $1,080 – $1,320 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,532 | $1,379 – $1,685 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,131 | $1,918 – $2,344 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,570 | $2,313 – $2,827 |
Example: at 100% of FMR, a 2-bedroom voucher in Worcester, MA covers up to $1,532 in gross rent (before the tenant’s utility allowance). Between the low and high end of the range: $1,379–$1,685.
Voucher demand in this metro
Aggregated from HUD Public Housing Authority data (FY2026). High utilization means voucher holders are placed and reliably paying rent, a stable but competitive tenant pool for accepting landlords.
Housing authorities serving Worcester, MA
15 PHAs administer vouchers in this metro. Contact the PHA that covers the specific address you’re considering.
- Status unknown
Worcester Housing Authority
Worcester, MA · MA012 · 3,700 HCV units
- Status unknown
Milford Housing Authority
Milford, MA · MA069 · 567 HCV units
- Status unknown
Leominster Housing Authority
Leominster, MA · MA086 · 404 HCV units
- Status unknown
Fitchburg Housing Authority
Fitchburg, MA · MA037 · 227 HCV units
- Status unknown
Shrewsbury Housing Authority
Shrewsbury, MA · MA041 · 177 HCV units
- Status unknown
Oxford Housing Authority
Oxford, MA · MA106 · 153 HCV units
- Status unknown
The Bridge of Central Massachusetts
Worcester, MA · MA188 · 133 HCV units
- Status unknown
Southbridge Housing Authority
Southbridge, MA · MA076 · 128 HCV units
- Status unknown
Gardner Housing Authority
Gardner, MA · MA127 · 108 HCV units
- Status unknown
Warren Housing Authority
Warren, MA · MA105 · 69 HCV units
- Status unknown
Holden Housing Authority
Holden, MA · MA082 · 62 HCV units
- Status unknown
Athol Housing Authority
Athol, MA · MA100 · 61 HCV units
- Status unknown
Webster Housing Authority
Webster, MA · MA123 · 47 HCV units
- Status unknown
Winchendon Housing Authority
Winchendon, MA · MA039 · 44 HCV units
- Status unknown
Auburn Housing Authority
Auburn, MA · MA159 · 0 HCV units
Source-of-income law in MA
MA state law prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to Section 8 voucher holders on the basis of their source of income.
M.G.L. c.151B §4 · view statute →
Informational only, not legal advice. Laws change; verify current status before making a leasing decision.
Analyze a specific Worcester, MA property
Look up the address’s SAFMR (ZIP-level rent), plug the numbers into the voucher-vs-market analyzer, and check the HQS pre-inspection list before scheduling.