2026–27 Section 8 Rent Limits for 02138
Cambridge, MA • Middlesex County • Source: SAFMR
How much will Section 8 pay for rent in 02138?
HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 02138 (Cambridge, MA), effective October 1, 2026, are $3,500 for a studio, $3,610 for 1 bedroom, $4,310 for 2 bedrooms, $5,140 for 3 bedrooms and $5,660 for 4 bedrooms a month. These are gross rents: rent plus any utilities the tenant pays.
Your housing authority turns these into its payment standard — the most the voucher counts toward rent — normally between 90% and 110% of HUD's figure, so about $3,879–$4,741 for a 2-bedroom here. Moving to Work agencies can set theirs outside that range. You usually pay about 30% of your adjusted income plus any amount the gross rent is above the payment standard, and at move-in your share can't exceed 40% of adjusted monthly income. Confirm the amount with your housing authority.
Boston Housing Authority's published payment standards for 02138, effective January 1, 2026: $3,560 for a studio, $3,739 for 1 bedroom, $4,442 for 2 bedrooms, $5,325 for 3 bedrooms and $5,881 for 4 bedrooms. These are Boston Housing Authority's own figures, from its schedule, and apply to vouchers it administers; other housing authorities set their own. BHA Payment Standard Chart for All Bedroom Sizes, effective January 1, 2026 (PDF) · All Boston Housing Authority ZIPs · Boston Housing Authority utility allowances
Voucher amounts nationwide by unit size: Studio · 1 Bedroom · 2 Bedroom · 3 Bedroom · 4 Bedroom
Do you qualify? See the Middlesex County income limits for Section 8.
Related ZIP Codes in Cambridge
Browse other ZIP codes in the same city (hub-and-spoke linking).