FY2027 Small Area FMR · Cougar, WA
ZIP 98616 Fair Market Rent & Payment Standards
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in ZIP code 98616 (Cougar, WA) is $2,020 a month, down 4.3% from FY2026. That is 44% above the Longview-Kelso, WA area-wide FMR of $1,398.
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 98616 sits in the Longview-Kelso, WA area
Of the 12 ZIP codes HUD lists for the area, 98616 has the 1st highest two-bedroom Small Area FMR. Longview-Kelso, WA 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 $1,398 for two bedrooms; an agency that opts in to Small Area FMRs would use $2,020 for this ZIP code instead.
ZIP code 98616 crosses more than one HUD area. HUD also lists it under Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA (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 | $1,640 | $1,476 – $1,804 | $974 | $1,720 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,760 | $1,584 – $1,936 | $1,124 | $1,840 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,020 | $1,818 – $2,222 | $1,398 | $2,110 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,740 | $2,466 – $3,014 | $1,936 | $2,880 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,300 | $2,970 – $3,630 | $2,337 | $3,410 |
A household renting a two-bedroom home at the Small Area FMR of $2,020 needs about $80,800 a year to keep housing costs at 30% of income. The area median family income is $106,700 and the 80% low-income limit for four people is $83,350. ZIP code 98616 lies mainly in Skamania County and Cowlitz County. See the Longview-Kelso, WA county page for the full income limits table and the household check.
Nearby ZIP codes
Questions
What is the Fair Market Rent for ZIP code 98616?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 98616 are $1,640 (studio), $1,760 (1 BR), $2,020 (2 BR), $2,740 (3 BR) and $3,300 (4 BR) a month.
What is the Section 8 payment standard in 98616?
Housing agencies set payment standards between 90% and 110% of the applicable FMR without HUD approval. For a two-bedroom unit in 98616 that range is $1,818 to $2,222 if the agency uses Small Area FMRs. Ask your housing agency for its actual payment standard.
Which income limits apply in 98616?
The FY2026 income limits of the Longview-Kelso, WA area apply: median family income $106,700, low-income (80%) limit $83,350 for a family of four.