Income Limits by County

FY2027 Small Area FMR · Lowell, MA

ZIP 01854 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 01854 (Lowell, MA) is $2,290 a month, up 1.8% from FY2026. That is 4% below the Lowell, MA area-wide FMR of $2,383.

2-bedroom SAFMR$2,290per month ▲ 1.8%
Area-wide 2 BR FMR$2,383Lowell, MA
Rank in the area25thof 27 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,061
2 BR Small Area FMR$2,290
110% of SAFMR$2,519

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

FY2027 FY2026

Where 01854 sits in the Lowell, MA area

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

Of the 27 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 01854 has the 25th 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 $2,290 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$1,550
1 bedroom$1,760$1,584 – $1,936$1,831$1,710
2 bedrooms$2,290$2,061 – $2,519$2,383$2,250
3 bedrooms$2,770$2,493 – $3,047$2,878$2,700
4 bedrooms$3,010$2,709 – $3,311$3,132$2,980

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,290 needs about $91,600 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 01854 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
01851Lowell1.6 mi$2,440
01850Lowell2.3 mi$2,240
01863North Chelmsford2.4 mi$2,340
01852Lowell2.9 mi$2,280
01826Dracut3.2 mi$2,390
01824Chelmsford4.1 mi$2,930

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 01854?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 01854 are $1,590 (studio), $1,760 (1 BR), $2,290 (2 BR), $2,770 (3 BR) and $3,010 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 01854?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 01854 that range is $2,061 to $2,519 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 01854?

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.