FY2026 Fair Market Rents — Lowell, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
The HUD-published Fair Market Rents for FY2026 in this area are:
Studio
$1,621
1BR
$1,792
2BR
$2,351
3BR
$2,819
4BR
$3,113
Hours/week at min wage
121 hrs
to afford the 2BR FMR @ $15.00/hr (MA)
YoY change (2BR)
+4.9%
+$109 vs FY2025 · 5-yr +52%
Voucher payment standard
$2,116–$2,586
PHAs set HCV payment at 90–110% of the 2BR FMR
Lowell, MA HUD Metro FMR Area
Non-Metropolitan area · MA · View full history · Income limits · LIHTC rents
FY2026 Fair Market Rents
| Bedroom Size | Monthly FMR | Annual Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency (Studio) | $1,621 | $19,452 |
| 1-Bedroom | $1,792 | $21,504 |
| 2-Bedroom | $2,351 | $28,212 |
| 3-Bedroom | $2,819 | $33,828 |
| 4-Bedroom | $3,113 | $37,356 |
Recent 2-Bedroom FMR Trend
FY2020 $1,534 → FY2026 $2,351
| Fiscal Year | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | $1,621 | $1,792 | $2,351 | $2,819 | $3,113 |
| FY2025 | $1,537 | $1,709 | $2,242 | $2,701 | $2,972 |
| FY2024 | $1,369 | $1,518 | $1,995 | $2,412 | $2,657 |
| FY2023 | $1,340 | $1,490 | $1,955 | $2,379 | $2,626 |
| FY2022 | $1,237 | $1,359 | $1,773 | $2,192 | $2,404 |
| FY2021 | $1,067 | $1,193 | $1,547 | $1,924 | $2,098 |
| FY2020 | $1,066 | $1,188 | $1,534 | $1,912 | $2,078 |
View full FMR history back to FY2000 →
FY2026 Income Limits
Area Median Income (AMI): $143,000
| AMI Level | 1p | 2p | 3p | 4p | 5p | 6p |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30% AMI (Extremely Low) | $30,050 | $34,350 | $38,650 | $42,900 | $46,350 | $49,800 |
| 50% AMI (Very Low) | $50,050 | $57,200 | $64,350 | $71,500 | $77,250 | $82,950 |
| 80% AMI (Low) | $76,750 | $87,700 | $98,650 | $109,600 | $118,400 | $127,150 |
Full income limits table (all 8 household sizes) →
Affordability Snapshot
2BR Annual FMR
$28,212/yr
FMR as % of Area Median Income
19.7% of AMI
Under 30% — affordable at median income
Income Needed (30% rule, 2BR)
$94,040/yr
$7,837/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 | $1,251 | $1,430 | $1,608 | $1,930 | $2,073 |
| 60% AMI Maximum | $1,501 | $1,716 | $1,930 | $2,316 | $2,488 |
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 | $1,621 | $1,792 | $2,323 | $2,323 | $2,323 |
| Low HOME Rent | $1,251 | $1,430 | $1,608 | $1,787 | $1,931 |
Compare Lowell, MA HUD Metro FMR Area With Other MA Metros
vs. Amherst Town-Northampton, MA MSA
vs. Barnstable Town, MA MSA
vs. Berkshire County, MA (part) HUD Metro FMR Area
vs. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area
vs. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area