FMR Lookup › Maine › Kennebec County
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Kennebec County, ME (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Kennebec County, ME, 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 | $1,082 | $974 – $1,190 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,090 | $981 – $1,199 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,416 | $1,274 – $1,558 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,819 | $1,637 – $2,001 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,158 | $1,942 – $2,374 |
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 $1,416 — 2% below the Maine median of $1,438 across all 19 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
This is a county-level (non-metro) FMR area covering: Albion town (Kennebec County), Augusta city (Kennebec County), Belgrade town (Kennebec County), Benton town (Kennebec County), Chelsea town (Kennebec County), China town (Kennebec County), Clinton town (Kennebec County), Farmingdale town (Kennebec County), Fayette town (Kennebec County), Gardiner city (Kennebec County), Hallowell city (Kennebec County), Litchfield town (Kennebec County), Manchester town (Kennebec County), Monmouth town (Kennebec County), Mount Vernon town (Kennebec County), Oakland town (Kennebec County), Pittston town (Kennebec County), Randolph town (Kennebec County), Readfield town (Kennebec County), Rome town (Kennebec County), Sidney town (Kennebec County), Unity UT (Kennebec County), Vassalboro town (Kennebec County), Vienna town (Kennebec County), Waterville city (Kennebec County), Wayne town (Kennebec County), West Gardiner town (Kennebec County), Windsor town (Kennebec County), Winslow town (Kennebec County), Winthrop town (Kennebec County). One FMR applies across the whole area — HUD does not publish separate figures per city or ZIP here.
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 Kennebec County: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Maine markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piscataquis County | $1,081 | $1,419 | $1,701 |
| Lincoln County | $1,280 | $1,403 | $1,936 |
| Waldo County | $1,163 | $1,438 | $1,865 |
| Penobscot County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,061 | $1,392 | $1,799 |
| Hancock County | $1,234 | $1,501 | $2,047 |
| Franklin County | $1,008 | $1,322 | $1,750 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Kennebec County.