FY2027 Small Area FMR · Waltham, MA

ZIP 02451 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 02451 (Waltham, MA) is $3,640 a month, up 3.4% from FY2026. That is 21% above the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area-wide FMR of $3,008.

2-bedroom SAFMR$3,640per month ▲ 3.4%

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

Rank in the area31stof 259 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$3,276

2 BR Small Area FMR$3,640

110% of SAFMR$4,004

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

Studio$2,950▲ 4.6%

1 BR$3,050▲ 3.0%

2 BR$3,640▲ 3.4%

3 BR$4,340▲ 2.8%

4 BR$4,780▲ 2.6%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 02451 sits in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area

Of the 259 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 02451 has the 31st 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 $3,640 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	$2,950	$2,655 – $3,245	$2,440	$2,820
1 bedroom	$3,050	$2,745 – $3,355	$2,518	$2,960
2 bedrooms	$3,640	$3,276 – $4,004	$3,008	$3,520
3 bedrooms	$4,340	$3,906 – $4,774	$3,584	$4,220
4 bedrooms	$4,780	$4,302 – $5,258	$3,953	$4,660

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $3,640 needs about $145,600 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 02451 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
02453	Waltham	2.1 mi	$3,160
02452	Waltham	2.2 mi	$3,190
02421	Lexington	2.9 mi	$4,130
01773	Lincoln	3.4 mi	$3,060
02493	Weston	3.5 mi	$3,010
02465	West Newton	3.7 mi	$3,120

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 02451?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 02451 are $2,950 (studio), $3,050 (1 BR), $3,640 (2 BR), $4,340 (3 BR) and $4,780 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 02451?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 02451 that range is $3,276 to $4,004 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 02451?

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.