FY2027 Small Area FMR · Berwick, PA
ZIP 18603 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 18603 (Berwick, PA) is $1,130 a month, up 9.7% from FY2026. That is 17% below the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area-wide FMR of $1,363.
Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms
Housing agencies may set voucher payment standards anywhere from 90% to 110% of the FMR without asking HUD.
FY2027 FY2026
Where 18603 sits in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area
Of the 97 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 18603 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 18603 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Columbia County, PA (same figures). The figure that applies depends on which side of the line the home is.
All unit sizes
| Unit | FY2027 SAFMR | Payment standard range | Area-wide FMR | FY2026 SAFMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $780 | $702 – $858 | $949 | $710 |
| 1 bedroom | $930 | $837 – $1,023 | $1,106 | $850 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,130 | $1,017 – $1,243 | $1,363 | $1,030 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,470 | $1,323 – $1,617 | $1,786 | $1,320 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,590 | $1,431 – $1,749 | $1,962 | $1,440 |
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 18603 lies mainly in Columbia County and Luzerne County. See the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro page for the full income limits table and the household check.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 18603?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 18603 are $780 (studio), $930 (1 BR), $1,130 (2 BR), $1,470 (3 BR) and $1,590 (4 BR) a month.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in 18603?
Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 18603 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 18603?
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.