2026–27 Section 8 Rent Limits for 02121

Dorchester, MA • Suffolk County • Source: SAFMR

MA / Dorchester

How much will Section 8 pay for rent in 02121?

HUD's FY2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents for 02121 (Dorchester, MA), effective October 1, 2026, are $2,130 for a studio, $2,230 for 1 bedroom, $2,650 for 2 bedrooms, $3,180 for 3 bedrooms and $3,510 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 $2,385–$2,915 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.

Payment standards from Boston Housing Authority and Metro Housing|Boston

More than one housing authority runs Section 8 vouchers in ZIP 02121. Use the payment standards of the authority that issued your voucher.

Boston Housing Authority's own payment standards for 02121, effective January 1, 2026, from its published schedule:

Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
$2,268$2,381$2,827$3,390$3,744

Boston Housing Authority payment standards 2026 · Official Boston Housing Authority payment standards (PDF)

Metro Housing|Boston sets its own payment standards, normally between 90% and 110% of HUD's Fair Market Rent or Small Area FMR for the unit's area (24 CFR 982.503). We haven't transcribed Metro Housing|Boston's schedule, so the amounts on this page are HUD's figures, not Metro Housing|Boston's.

Metro Housing|Boston payment standards 2026 · Official Metro Housing|Boston payment standards (page)

HUD Small Area FMRs by bedroom (FY2027)

Monthly gross rent figures published by HUD for 02121, effective October 1, 2026. They are the benchmark for payment standards, not a cap on the rent a landlord can charge.

Unit Size HUD figure (monthly)
Studio $2,130
1 Bedroom $2,230
2 Bedroom $2,650
3 Bedroom $3,180
4 Bedroom $3,510
Effective date: 2026-10-01. Always confirm with your local PHA.

Voucher amounts nationwide by unit size: Studio · 1 Bedroom · 2 Bedroom · 3 Bedroom · 4 Bedroom

Do you qualify? See the Suffolk County income limits for Section 8.

Related ZIP Codes in Dorchester

Browse other ZIP codes in the same city (hub-and-spoke linking).

0212202125