Income Limits by County

FY2027 Small Area FMR · Lowell, MA

ZIP 01852 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 01852 (Lowell, MA) is $2,280 a month, up 5.6% from FY2026. That is 4% below the Lowell, MA area-wide FMR of $2,383.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,280per month ▲ 5.6%
Area-wide 2 BR FMR$2,383Lowell, MA
Rank in the area26thof 27 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,052
2 BR Small Area FMR$2,280
110% of SAFMR$2,508

Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.

FY2027 FY2026

Where 01852 sits in the Lowell, MA area

$2,240$3,460median $2,810

Of the 27 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 01852 has the 26th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Lowell, MA is not on HUD's list of mandatory Small Area FMR areas, so voucher payment standards here are normally based on the area-wide FMR of $2,383 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $2,280 for this ZIP code instead.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
UnitFY2027 SAFMRPayment standard rangeArea-wide FMRFY2026 SAFMR
Studio$1,590$1,431 – $1,749$1,659$1,490
1 bedroom$1,750$1,575 – $1,925$1,831$1,650
2 bedrooms$2,280$2,052 – $2,508$2,383$2,160
3 bedrooms$2,750$2,475 – $3,025$2,878$2,590
4 bedrooms$3,000$2,700 – $3,300$3,132$2,860

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,280 needs about $91,200 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $143,000 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $109,600. ZIP code 01852 lies mainly in Middlesex County. See the Lowell, MA county page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPPlaceDistance2 BR SAFMR
01850Lowell1.6 mi$2,240
01851Lowell2.0 mi$2,440
01854Lowell2.9 mi$2,290
01826Dracut3.2 mi$2,390
01876Tewksbury3.8 mi$3,150
01862North Billerica3.8 mi$2,580

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 01852?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 01852 are $1,590 (studio), $1,750 (1 BR), $2,280 (2 BR), $2,750 (3 BR) and $3,000 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 01852?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 01852 that range is $2,052 to $2,508 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 01852?

The FY2026 income limits of the Lowell, MA area apply: median family income $143,000, low-income (80%) limit $109,600 for a family of four.