FY2027 Small Area FMR · Mertztown, PA
ZIP 19539 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 19539 (Mertztown, PA) is $1,670 a month, down 9.7% from FY2026. That is 9% below the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA area-wide FMR of $1,839.
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 19539 sits in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA area
Of the 86 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 19539 has the 49th highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, 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 $1,839 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $1,670 for this ZIP code instead.
ZIP code 19539 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Reading, 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 | $1,150 | $1,035 – $1,265 | $1,302 | $1,270 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,340 | $1,206 – $1,474 | $1,519 | $1,480 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,670 | $1,503 – $1,837 | $1,839 | $1,850 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,080 | $1,872 – $2,288 | $2,306 | $2,310 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,220 | $1,998 – $2,442 | $2,482 | $2,460 |
A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $1,670 needs about $66,800 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $104,400 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $83,500. ZIP code 19539 lies mainly in Berks County and Lehigh County. See the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, 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 19539?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 19539 are $1,150 (studio), $1,340 (1 BR), $1,670 (2 BR), $2,080 (3 BR) and $2,220 (4 BR) a month.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in 19539?
Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 19539 that range is $1,503 to $1,837 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.
Which income limits apply in 19539?
The FY2026 income limits of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA area apply: median family income $104,400, low-income (80%) limit $83,500 for a family of four.