FMR Lookup › California › Santa Cruz-Watsonville
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA (FY2027)
HUD's official FY2027 Fair Market Rents for the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA MSA, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2027 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $3,230 | $2,907 – $3,553 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,390 | $3,051 – $3,729 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,254 | $3,829 – $4,679 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,531 | $4,978 – $6,084 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,748 | $5,173 – $6,323 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2027 Fair Market Rents. FY2027 FMRs are effective October 1, 2026. FY2027 FMRs take effect October 1, 2026; until that date, the prior FY2026 schedule remains in effect. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $4,254 — 157% above the California median of $1,656 across all 51 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA FMR area is a metro area covering: Santa Cruz County. One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here (some large metros have Small Area FMRs by ZIP; check with the local housing authority).
What a landlord actually collects
FMR is the baseline, not the contract rent. The local housing authority sets a payment standard between 90% and 110% of FMR (the range in the table above), and your unit must pass a rent-reasonableness comparison against similar unassisted rentals nearby. The voucher then covers the gap between the tenant's share (roughly 30% of their income) and the approved rent.
Run the numbers for a deal in Santa Cruz-Watsonville: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable California markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $3,003 | $3,697 | $4,832 |
| Napa | $2,580 | $3,375 | $4,201 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $2,778 | $3,272 | $4,396 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara | $2,711 | $3,106 | $3,990 |
| Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine | $2,610 | $3,057 | $4,153 |
| San Benito County | $2,296 | $3,004 | $4,160 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Santa Cruz-Watsonville.