FY2027 Small Area FMR · Sweet Valley, PA

ZIP 18656 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 18656 (Sweet Valley, PA) is $1,240 a month, up 5.1% from FY2026. That is 9% below the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area-wide FMR of $1,363.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,240per month ▲ 5.1%

Area-wide 2 BR FMR$1,363Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Rank in the area74thof 97 ZIP codes

Payment standard range, 2 bedrooms

90% of SAFMR$1,116

2 BR Small Area FMR$1,240

110% of SAFMR$1,364

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

Studio$860▲ 6.2%

1 BR$1,010▲ 4.1%

2 BR$1,240▲ 5.1%

3 BR$1,620▲ 5.2%

4 BR$1,780▲ 7.2%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 18656 sits in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area

Of the 97 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 18656 has the 74th 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 $1,240 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	$860	$774 – $946	$949	$810
1 bedroom	$1,010	$909 – $1,111	$1,106	$970
2 bedrooms	$1,240	$1,116 – $1,364	$1,363	$1,180
3 bedrooms	$1,620	$1,458 – $1,782	$1,786	$1,540
4 bedrooms	$1,780	$1,602 – $1,958	$1,962	$1,660

A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,240 needs about $49,600 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 18656 lies mainly in Luzerne County. See the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro page for the full income limits table and the household check.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIP	Place	Distance	2 BR SAFMR
18636	Noxen	5.5 mi	$1,240
18621	Hunlock Creek	7.3 mi	$1,590
18618	Harveys Lake	7.6 mi	$1,840
18627	Lehman	8.6 mi	$1,370
18628	Lopez	9.5 mi	$1,090
18655	Shickshinny	10.0 mi	$1,280

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 18656?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 18656 are $860 (studio), $1,010 (1 BR), $1,240 (2 BR), $1,620 (3 BR) and $1,780 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 18656?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 18656 that range is $1,116 to $1,364 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.

Which income limits apply in 18656?

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.