FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.78
1 BR
1 BR
0.77ratio
FMR$960
Market$1,240
vs market-$280
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.77
2 BR
2 BR
0.79ratio
FMR$1,260
Market$1,600
vs market-$340
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.79
3 BR
3 BR
0.85ratio
FMR$1,680
Market$1,980
vs market-$300
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.85
4 BR
4 BR
0.74ratio
FMR$1,890
Market$2,570
vs market-$680
FMR is below market; voucher rent may lag private rents.
0.74
0.700.800.901.001.101.201.30aligned range
Historical
FY 2023-2027
FMR
FY2027
Market rent
last ~365 days
Property value
--
Tax rate
--
Mortgage rate
--
ZIP 21781 fair market rent, FY 2027
For FY 2027, HUD's Small Area Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in ZIP 21781 (Saint James, MD) is $1,260 a month. That is up 1.6% from $1,240 in FY 2026. Saint James is in the Hagerstown, MD HUD Metro FMR Area. HUD also publishes the ZIP-level Small Area FMRs shown here, but unless the local housing authority has adopted them, vouchers are based on the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,284. Among 23 ZIP codes in Washington County, 21781 is tied for the 15th-highest two-bedroom rent (county range $1,140–$2,040). The median county two-bedroom FMR in Maryland is $1,875, so ZIP 21781 is 33% below it.
FY 2027 rent by bedroom
FY 2027 fair market rent by bedroom for 21781
Bedrooms
FY 2026
FY 2027
Change
90–110% range
Studio
$850
$880
+3.5%
$792–$968
1BR
$950
$960
+1.1%
$864–$1,056
2BR
$1,240
$1,260
+1.6%
$1,134–$1,386
3BR
$1,670
$1,680
+0.6%
$1,512–$1,848
4BR
$1,870
$1,890
+1.1%
$1,701–$2,079
Fair market rent history, FY 2023–2027
Fair market rent by fiscal year for 21781
Fiscal year
Studio
1BR
2BR
3BR
4BR
FY 2027
$880
$960
$1,260
$1,680
$1,890
FY 2026
$850
$950
$1,240
$1,670
$1,870
FY 2025
$820
$910
$1,200
$1,650
$1,840
FY 2024
$790
$890
$1,170
$1,640
$1,800
FY 2023
$700
$810
$1,050
$1,490
$1,660
Two-bedroom rent in nearby Washington County ZIP codes
How much will Section 8 pay for a two-bedroom in ZIP 21781?
Housing authorities set voucher payment standards, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR. With the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR of $1,284, which applies unless the housing authority uses Small Area FMRs, that basic range is $1,156 to $1,412 a month; under the ZIP-level Small Area FMR of $1,260 it would be $1,134 to $1,386. The voucher pays the lower of the payment standard or the gross rent, minus the tenant's share, which is usually about 30% of adjusted monthly income. Confirm the local housing authority's current schedule before underwriting.
Which HUD fair market rent area is ZIP 21781 in?
ZIP 21781 is in the Hagerstown, MD HUD Metro FMR Area. Small Area FMRs are optional here; the metro-wide two-bedroom FMR is $1,284.
How much did fair market rent change in ZIP 21781 for FY 2027?
The two-bedroom FMR rose 1.6%, from $1,240 in FY 2026 to $1,260 in FY 2027. Since FY 2023 it has risen 20.0%.
When do FY 2027 fair market rents take effect?
HUD's FY 2027 fair market rents took effect on October 1, 2026. When FMRs change, housing authorities generally have up to three months to bring payment standards back within 90% to 110% of the new FMR.
Source: HUD FY 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents and area FMRs. Payment-standard ranges are 90% to 110% of FMR, HUD's basic range, not a housing authority's published schedule. How payment standards are set