FY2026 Fair Market Rents — Merced, CA MSA
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$1,116
1BR
$1,213
2BR
$1,503
3BR
$2,067
4BR
$2,503
Hours/week at min wage
71 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $16.50/hr (CA)
YoY change (2BR)
-0.4%
$6 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +40.9%
Voucher payment standard
$1,353–$1,653
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
Merced, CA MSA
Non-Metropolitan area · CA · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $1,116 | $13,392 |
| 1-Bedroom | $1,213 | $14,556 |
| 2-Bedroom | $1,503 | $18,036 |
| 3-Bedroom | $2,067 | $24,804 |
| 4-Bedroom | $2,503 | $30,036 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $947 → FY2026 $1,503
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $1,116 | $1,213 | $1,503 | $2,067 | $2,503 |
| FY2025 | $1,071 | $1,227 | $1,509 | $2,081 | $2,534 |
| FY2024 | $994 | $1,159 | $1,420 | $1,995 | $2,410 |
| FY2023 | $854 | $1,017 | $1,243 | $1,767 | $2,117 |
| FY2022 | $766 | $914 | $1,120 | $1,591 | $1,917 |
| FY2021 | $724 | $882 | $1,067 | $1,527 | $1,847 |
| FY2020 | $651 | $782 | $947 | $1,366 | $1,652 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $75,800
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $20,450 | $23,350 | $27,320 | $33,000 | $38,680 | $44,360 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $34,000 | $38,850 | $43,700 | $48,550 | $52,450 | $56,350 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $54,400 | $62,200 | $69,950 | $77,700 | $83,950 | $90,150 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$18,036/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
23.8% of AMI
Under 30% — affordable at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$60,120/yr
$5,010/mo gross income
FY2026 LIHTC Maximum Rents
Maximum gross rents for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit units, by income band. Full LIHTC details →
| AMI Band | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50% AMI Maximum | $663 | $758 | $852 | $1,023 | $1,099 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $795 | $909 | $1,023 | $1,227 | $1,318 |
FY2026 HOME Program Rent Limits
Maximum rents for HOME Investment Partnerships–funded units. High HOME rents apply to most assisted units; Low HOME rents apply to the lowest-income set-aside units. Full HOME rent details →
| Limit Type | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High HOME Rent | $1,116 | $1,213 | $1,231 | $1,231 | $1,231 |
| Low HOME Rent | $850 | $971 | $1,092 | $1,213 | $1,311 |
Compare Merced, CA MSA With Other CA Metros
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vs. Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA