FY2027 Small Area FMR · Princeton, NJ

ZIP 08544 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 08544 (Princeton, NJ) is $3,000 a month, up 11.1% from FY2026. That is 34% above the Trenton-Princeton, NJ area-wide FMR of $2,242.

2-bedroom SAFMR$3,000per month ▲ 11.1%

Area-wide 2 BR FMR$2,242Trenton-Princeton, NJ

Rank in the area3rdof 36 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$2,700

2 BR Small Area FMR$3,000

110% of SAFMR$3,300

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

Studio$2,120▲ 12.8%

1 BR$2,370▲ 10.7%

2 BR$3,000▲ 11.1%

3 BR$3,640▲ 12.3%

4 BR$4,100▲ 11.7%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 08544 sits in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ area

Of the 36 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 08544 has the 3rd highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Trenton-Princeton, NJ 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 $2,242 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $3,000 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	$2,120	$1,908 – $2,332	$1,561	$1,880
1 bedroom	$2,370	$2,133 – $2,607	$1,764	$2,140
2 bedrooms	$3,000	$2,700 – $3,300	$2,242	$2,700
3 bedrooms	$3,640	$3,276 – $4,004	$2,741	$3,240
4 bedrooms	$4,100	$3,690 – $4,510	$3,081	$3,670

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $3,000 needs about $120,000 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $139,800 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $106,800. ZIP code 08544 lies mainly in Mercer County. See the Trenton-Princeton, NJ county page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIP	Place	Distance	2 BR SAFMR
08542	Princeton	0.5 mi	$3,360
08540	Princeton	1.0 mi	$2,890
08528	Kingston	3.2 mi	$2,890
08553	Rocky Hill	3.6 mi	$2,390
08536	Plainsboro	4.0 mi	$2,720
08550	Princeton Junction	5.2 mi	$3,360

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 08544?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 08544 are $2,120 (studio), $2,370 (1 BR), $3,000 (2 BR), $3,640 (3 BR) and $4,100 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 08544?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 08544 that range is $2,700 to $3,300 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 08544?

The FY2026 income limits of the Trenton-Princeton, NJ area apply: median family income $139,800, low-income (80%) limit $106,800 for a family of four.