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Section 8 Payment Standards by State

See how every state's average Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher payment standard compares, ranked from highest to lowest using official HUD FMR and SAFMR data.

Highest 2BR Average
California
$2,560/mo
National Average (2 Bedroom)
$1,492/mo
Lowest 2BR Average
Puerto Rico
$661/mo

Top 10 States by 2-Bedroom Payment Standard

Average across all ZIP codes in our database for each state. The full sortable table with all 50 states + DC/territories and every bedroom size loads below.

Rank State 2BR Payment Standard
#1 California $2,560
#2 Hawaii $2,508
#3 Massachusetts $2,499
#4 District of Columbia $2,498
#5 New Jersey $2,368
#6 Connecticut $2,071
#7 Rhode Island $2,030
#8 Maryland $1,983
#9 New York $1,928
#10 New Hampshire $1,927
Loading the full, sortable, filterable table for all 50 states + DC/territories…

Figures are averages across all ZIP codes with available HUD FMR/SAFMR data for each state; actual payment standards vary by ZIP code and Public Housing Authority. Click any state to see its full city-by-city breakdown, or look up your exact ZIP code on the Rent Limits Lookup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which states have the highest Section 8 payment standards?

Based on average 2-bedroom payment standards across all ZIP codes, California currently has the highest average at $2,560/month. High-cost coastal states and states with many Small Area FMR (SAFMR) metro areas tend to rank highest, since SAFMR sets payment standards at the ZIP-code level and can exceed the county-wide FMR in expensive neighborhoods.

Which states have the lowest Section 8 payment standards?

Puerto Rico currently has the lowest average 2-bedroom payment standard at $661/month, reflecting generally lower rental costs in that market.

Why do Section 8 payment standards vary so much by state?

HUD sets Fair Market Rents (FMR) and Small Area FMRs (SAFMR) based on actual local rental market data gathered from each metro area and county, not a single national number. States with higher costs of living and housing demand have higher payment standards, while lower-cost states have lower ones. Payment standards can also vary significantly between cities within the same state.

Is this the same as income limits for Section 8?

No. Payment standards (shown here) set the maximum rent subsidy a Public Housing Authority will pay toward a unit. Income limits determine whether a household is financially eligible for the voucher program in the first place. Use the Income Limits tool on this site to check eligibility by household size and location.

How is each state's average calculated?

Each state's figures are an average of the payment standards across every ZIP code in our database for that state, using the most recent HUD FMR and SAFMR data. This gives a useful state-level comparison, but actual payment standards vary by specific ZIP code, city, and Public Housing Authority.

Where can I find the exact payment standard for my ZIP code?

State-level averages are useful for comparison, but your local PHA sets the exact payment standard for your specific ZIP code. Use the Rent Limits Lookup tool to search by ZIP code for the precise, current payment standard in your area.