FY2027 Small Area FMR · Wilkes Barre, PA

ZIP 18701 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 18701 (Wilkes Barre, PA) is $1,130 a month, up 4.6% from FY2026. That is 17% below the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area-wide FMR of $1,363.

2-bedroom SAFMR$1,130per month ▲ 4.6%

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.

Studio$780▲ 5.4%

1 BR$930▲ 4.5%

2 BR$1,130▲ 4.6%

3 BR$1,470▲ 4.3%

4 BR$1,610▲ 5.9%

FY2027 FY2026

Where 18701 sits in the Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA area

Of the 97 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 18701 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.

All unit sizes

Monthly gross rent including utilities
Unit	FY2027 SAFMR	Payment standard range	Area-wide FMR	FY2026 SAFMR
Studio	$780	$702 – $858	$949	$740
1 bedroom	$930	$837 – $1,023	$1,106	$890
2 bedrooms	$1,130	$1,017 – $1,243	$1,363	$1,080
3 bedrooms	$1,470	$1,323 – $1,617	$1,786	$1,410
4 bedrooms	$1,610	$1,449 – $1,771	$1,962	$1,520

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 18701 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
18704	Kingston	2.0 mi	$1,420
18705	Wilkes Barre	2.9 mi	$1,360
18709	Luzerne	3.0 mi	$1,150
18706	Wilkes Barre	3.2 mi	$1,330
18651	Plymouth	3.9 mi	$1,260
18708	Shavertown	5.4 mi	$1,480

Questions

What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 18701?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 18701 are $780 (studio), $930 (1 BR), $1,130 (2 BR), $1,470 (3 BR) and $1,610 (4 BR) a month.

What is the Section 8 payment standard in 18701?

Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 18701 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 18701?

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.