FY2027 Small Area FMR · Waltham, MA

ZIP 02453 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 02453 (Waltham, MA) is $3,160 a month, up 3.3% from FY2026. That is 5% above the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area-wide FMR of $3,008.

2-bedroom SAFMR$3,160per month ▲ 3.3%

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

Rank in the area69thof 259 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,844

2 BR Small Area FMR$3,160

110% of SAFMR$3,476

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

Studio$2,560▲ 4.5%

1 BR$2,640▲ 2.3%

2 BR$3,160▲ 3.3%

3 BR$3,770▲ 2.7%

4 BR$4,150▲ 2.5%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 02453 sits in the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH area

Of the 259 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 02453 has the 69th 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 $3,160 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	$2,560	$2,304 – $2,816	$2,440	$2,450
1 bedroom	$2,640	$2,376 – $2,904	$2,518	$2,580
2 bedrooms	$3,160	$2,844 – $3,476	$3,008	$3,060
3 bedrooms	$3,770	$3,393 – $4,147	$3,584	$3,670
4 bedrooms	$4,150	$3,735 – $4,565	$3,953	$4,050

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $3,160 needs about $126,400 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 02453 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
02465	West Newton	1.6 mi	$3,120
02466	Auburndale	1.8 mi	$3,150
02460	Newtonville	2.0 mi	$3,530
02451	Waltham	2.1 mi	$3,640
02452	Waltham	2.1 mi	$3,190
02468	Waban	2.9 mi	$3,830

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 02453?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 02453 are $2,560 (studio), $2,640 (1 BR), $3,160 (2 BR), $3,770 (3 BR) and $4,150 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 02453?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 02453 that range is $2,844 to $3,476 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 02453?

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.