FY2027 Fair Market Rent · Massachusetts
Berkshire County Fair Market Rent & Income Limits
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Berkshire County, MA is $1,704 a month, up 4.8% from FY2026. The area median family income is $109,400, and a family of four counts as low income up to $105,350 a year.
Fair Market Rent by unit size
FY2027 FY2026
Fair Market Rents are gross rents: rent plus the cost of all utilities except phone, cable and internet.
Check your household
Enter your household size and total yearly income before taxes to see which HUD income category it falls in for Berkshire County, MA.
Low income (80% limit)
A household of 4 earning $103,350 is under the 80% limit of $105,350 for this area. At 30% of income it could pay about $2,584 a month for rent and utilities.
This is a quick comparison with HUD's published limits, not an eligibility decision. Programs count income in their own ways and many have waiting lists; the local housing agency or property decides.
Income limits in Berkshire County
HUD's FY2026 income limits for Pittsfield, MA are based on a median family income of $109,400. Programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers, public housing and HOME use the 30%, 50% and 80% columns; Low-Income Housing Tax Credit properties use the 50% and 60% Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.
| People | Extremely low30% / poverty | Very low50% | 60% (LIHTC)MTSP | Low income80% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $27,650 | $46,100 | $55,320 | $73,750 |
| 2 | $31,600 | $52,700 | $63,240 | $84,300 |
| 3 | $35,550 | $59,300 | $71,160 | $94,850 |
| 4 | $39,500 | $65,850 | $79,020 | $105,350 |
| 5 | $42,700 | $71,150 | $85,380 | $113,800 |
| 6 | $45,850 | $76,400 | $91,680 | $122,250 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $81,700 | $98,040 | $130,650 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $86,950 | $104,340 | $139,100 |
Rent history
Since FY2017 the two-bedroom FMR here has gone from $887 to $1,704, up 92.1% over ten years. HUD has published a two-bedroom FMR for this area since FY1983, when it was $391.
What it takes to afford the rent
To keep a two-bedroom rent of $1,704 at no more than 30% of income, the usual affordability rule, a household needs about $68,200 a year. That is 62% of the area median family income of $109,400, so a typical family can afford it with room to spare.
| Unit | FY2027 | FY2026 | FY2025 | Income to affordat 30% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,315 | $1,245 | $1,077 | $52,600 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,324 | $1,269 | $1,234 | $53,000 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,704 | $1,626 | $1,571 | $68,200 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,231 | $2,109 | $2,016 | $89,200 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,848 | $2,577 | $2,166 | $113,900 |
Fair Market Rents by town in Berkshire County
In New England HUD sets Fair Market Rents and income limits by town, not by county. The 32 towns of Berkshire County fall into 2 HUD areas; the figures at the top of this page are for Pittsfield, MA, the area with the most residents. Find your town below.
| HUD area | 2 BR FMR | Median income | Towns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsfield, MA | $1,704 | $109,400 | Adams, Cheshire, Dalton, Hinsdale, Lanesborough, Lee, Lenox, Pittsfield, Richmond, Stockbridge |
| Berkshire County, MA (part) | $1,763 | $112,900 | Alford, Becket, Clarksburg, Egremont, Florida, Great Barrington, Hancock, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, North Adams, Otis, Peru, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Tyringham, Washington, West Stockbridge, Williamstown, Windsor |
How Berkshire County compares
Berkshire County makes up the Pittsfield, MA metro area on its own, so HUD's metro figures and the county figures are the same.
Berkshire County has the 14th highest two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of the 14 counties in Massachusetts; the population-weighted average across Massachusetts is $2,640 and the nationwide average is $1,751.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code
HUD also publishes Small Area Fair Market Rents for each ZIP code. In Berkshire County the two-bedroom figure ranges from $1,470 to $2,350 across 36 ZIP codes, against the area-wide $1,704. This area is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so most agencies here use the area-wide FMR; an agency may still opt in to ZIP-level rents.
| ZIP | Place | 2 BR SAFMR | 110% payment std. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01266 | West Stockbridge | $2,350 | $2,585 |
| 01267 | Williamstown | $2,190 | $2,409 |
| 01255 | Sandisfield | $2,130 | $2,343 |
| 01238 | Lee | $2,090 | $2,299 |
| 01223 | Becket | $2,080 | $2,288 |
| 01236 | Housatonic | $2,070 | $2,277 |
| 01264 | Tyringham | $2,060 | $2,266 |
| 01260 | South Lee | $2,000 | $2,200 |
| 01262 | Stockbridge | $1,930 | $2,123 |
| 01254 | Richmond | $1,900 | $2,090 |
| 01242 | Lenox Dale | $1,890 | $2,079 |
| 01230 | Great Barrington | $1,880 | $2,068 |
| 01244 | Mill River | $1,860 | $2,046 |
| 01235 | Hinsdale | $1,810 | $1,991 |
| 01270 | Windsor | $1,810 | $1,991 |
| 01029 | East Otis | $1,760 | $1,936 |
| 01201 | Pittsfield | $1,750 | $1,925 |
| 01202 | Pittsfield | $1,740 | $1,914 |
| 01227 | Dalton | $1,740 | $1,914 |
| 01229 | Glendale | $1,740 | $1,914 |
| 01224 | Berkshire | $1,730 | $1,903 |
| 01237 | Lanesborough | $1,730 | $1,903 |
| 01259 | Southfield | $1,730 | $1,903 |
| 01257 | Sheffield | $1,710 | $1,881 |
| 01258 | South Egremont | $1,710 | $1,881 |
| 01222 | Ashley Falls | $1,680 | $1,848 |
| 01247 | North Adams | $1,680 | $1,848 |
| 01343 | Drury | $1,680 | $1,848 |
| 01245 | Monterey | $1,670 | $1,837 |
| 01252 | North Egremont | $1,670 | $1,837 |
| 01253 | Otis | $1,670 | $1,837 |
| 01240 | Lenox | $1,650 | $1,815 |
| 01225 | Cheshire | $1,600 | $1,760 |
| 01256 | Savoy | $1,600 | $1,760 |
| 01220 | Adams | $1,510 | $1,661 |
| 01226 | Dalton | $1,470 | $1,617 |
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent in Berkshire County, MA for 2027?
For FY2027 (October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027) HUD's Fair Market Rents in Berkshire County, MA are $1,315 for a studio, $1,324 for one bedroom, $1,704 for two bedrooms, $2,231 for three and $2,848 for four bedrooms, per month including utilities.
What is the area median income in Berkshire County, MA?
HUD's FY2026 median family income for the area is $109,400, up 5.4% from $103,800 in FY2025.
What is 80% of AMI in Berkshire County, MA for a family of 4?
The FY2026 low-income limit (80%) for a household of four is $105,350 a year. The very low-income limit (50%) is $65,850 and the extremely low-income limit is $39,500.
What is the 60% AMI limit for tax credit housing in Berkshire County, MA?
Under HUD's FY2026 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits, the 60% limit is $55,320 for one person and $79,020 for four.
Is the Fair Market Rent the same as the Section 8 payment standard?
No. Housing agencies set their payment standard between 90% and 110% of the FMR (for a two-bedroom here: $1,534 to $1,874), and can ask HUD for exceptions. Check the payment standard with your local housing agency.