Income Limits by County

FY2027 Small Area FMR · Forest City, PA

ZIP 18421 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 18421 (Forest City, PA) is $1,130 a month, up 10.8% from FY2026. That is 17% below the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area-wide FMR of $1,363.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,130per month ▲ 10.8%
Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,363Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
Rank in the area94thof 97 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,017
2 BR Small Area FMR$1,130
110% of SAFMR$1,243

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

FY2027 FY2026

Where 18421 sits in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area

$1,130$1,890median $1,360

Of the 97 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 18421 has the 94th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA 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 $1,363 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $1,130 for this ZIP code instead.

ZIP code 18421 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Susquehanna County, PA (same figures) and Wayne County, PA (same figures). The figure that applies depends on which side of the line the home is.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
UnitFY2027 SAFMRPayment standard rangeArea-wide FMRFY2026 SAFMR
Studio$780$702 – $858$949$720
1 bedroom$930$837 – $1,023$1,106$840
2 bedrooms$1,130$1,017 – $1,243$1,363$1,020
3 bedrooms$1,470$1,323 – $1,617$1,786$1,320
4 bedrooms$1,710$1,539 – $1,881$1,962$1,650

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,130 needs about $45,200 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $92,400 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $73,600. ZIP code 18421 lies mainly in Susquehanna County, Wayne County and Lackawanna County. See the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPPlaceDistance2 BR SAFMR
18470Union Dale4.7 mi$1,020
18413Clifford5.1 mi$1,120
18407Carbondale5.5 mi$1,230
18441Lenoxville6.3 mi$1,130
18430Herrick Center6.5 mi$1,020
18472Waymart7.5 mi$1,250

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 18421?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 18421 are $780 (studio), $930 (1 BR), $1,130 (2 BR), $1,470 (3 BR) and $1,710 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 18421?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 18421 that range is $1,017 to $1,243 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 18421?

The FY2026 income limits of the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area apply: median family income $92,400, low-income (80%) limit $73,600 for a family of four.