FY2027 Small Area FMR · Cambridge, MA

ZIP 02139 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 02139 (Cambridge, MA) is $4,090 a month, up 2.2% from FY2026. That is 36% above the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area-wide FMR of $3,008.

2-bedroom SAFMR$4,090per month ▲ 2.2%

Area-wide 2 BR FMR$3,008Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-

Rank in the area14thof 259 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$3,681

2 BR Small Area FMR$4,090

110% of SAFMR$4,499

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

Studio$3,320▲ 3.4%

1 BR$3,420▲ 1.5%

2 BR$4,090▲ 2.2%

3 BR$4,870▲ 1.5%

4 BR$5,380▲ 1.5%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 02139 sits in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area

Of the 259 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 02139 has the 14th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH 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 $3,008 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $4,090 for this ZIP code instead.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
Unit	FY2027 SAFMR	Payment standard range	Area-wide FMR	FY2026 SAFMR
Studio	$3,320	$2,988 – $3,652	$2,440	$3,210
1 bedroom	$3,420	$3,078 – $3,762	$2,518	$3,370
2 bedrooms	$4,090	$3,681 – $4,499	$3,008	$4,000
3 bedrooms	$4,870	$4,383 – $5,357	$3,584	$4,800
4 bedrooms	$5,380	$4,842 – $5,918	$3,953	$5,300

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $4,090 needs about $163,600 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $164,600 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $137,100. ZIP code 02139 lies mainly in Middlesex County. See the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH metro page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIP	Place	Distance	2 BR SAFMR
02163	Boston	1.0 mi	$3,870
02215	Boston	1.1 mi	$4,050
02142	Cambridge	1.1 mi	$4,090
02141	Cambridge	1.2 mi	$3,970
02143	Somerville	1.3 mi	$3,630
02134	Allston	1.3 mi	$3,400

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 02139?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 02139 are $3,320 (studio), $3,420 (1 BR), $4,090 (2 BR), $4,870 (3 BR) and $5,380 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 02139?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 02139 that range is $3,681 to $4,499 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 02139?

The FY2026 income limits of the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area apply: median family income $164,600, low-income (80%) limit $137,100 for a family of four.