FMR Lookup › Massachusetts › Lawrence
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Lawrence, MA-NH (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Lawrence, MA-NH HUD Metro FMR Area, by bedroom count. These figures set the baseline for what the Housing Choice Voucher program pays landlords in this area.
| Unit size | FY2026 FMR | Payment standard range (90–110%) |
|---|---|---|
| Studio / efficiency | $1,565 | $1,409 – $1,722 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,730 | $1,557 – $1,903 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,270 | $2,043 – $2,497 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,722 | $2,450 – $2,994 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,006 | $2,705 – $3,307 |
Source: HUD User — FY 2026 Fair Market Rents. FY2026 FMRs are effective October 1, 2025. Retrieved 2026-06-11.
How this market compares
The 2-bedroom FMR here is $2,270 — 10% above the Massachusetts median of $2,067 across all 20 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Lawrence, MA-NH FMR area is a metro area covering: Andover town (Essex County), Boxford town (Essex County), Georgetown town (Essex County), Groveland town (Essex County), Haverhill city (Essex County), Lawrence city (Essex County), Merrimac town (Essex County), Methuen city (Essex County), North Andover town (Essex County), West Newbury town (Essex County), Atkinson town (Rockingham County), Chester town (Rockingham County), Danville town (Rockingham County), Derry town (Rockingham County), Fremont town (Rockingham County), Hampstead town (Rockingham County), Kingston town (Rockingham County), Newton town (Rockingham County), Plaistow town (Rockingham County), Raymond town (Rockingham County), Salem town (Rockingham County), Sandown town (Rockingham County), Windham town (Rockingham 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 Lawrence: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Massachusetts markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brockton | $1,761 | $2,311 | $2,889 |
| Lowell | $1,792 | $2,351 | $2,819 |
| Eastern Worcester County | $1,651 | $2,166 | $3,012 |
| Dukes County | $1,633 | $2,143 | $2,980 |
| Barnstable Town | $1,846 | $2,422 | $2,985 |
| Taunton-Mansfield-Norton | $1,584 | $2,078 | $2,562 |
All 20 Massachusetts FMR areas →
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Lawrence.