FMR Lookup › Maine › Portland
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Portland, ME (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Portland, ME 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 | $1,469 | $1,322 – $1,616 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,658 | $1,492 – $1,824 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,130 | $1,917 – $2,343 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,591 | $2,332 – $2,850 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,820 | $2,538 – $3,102 |
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 $2,130 — 48% above the Maine median of $1,438 across all 19 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Portland, ME FMR area is a metro area covering: Cape Elizabeth town (Cumberland County), Casco town (Cumberland County), Chebeague Island town (Cumberland County), Cumberland town (Cumberland County), Falmouth town (Cumberland County), Freeport town (Cumberland County), Frye Island town (Cumberland County), Gorham town (Cumberland County), Gray town (Cumberland County), Long Island town (Cumberland County), North Yarmouth town (Cumberland County), Portland city (Cumberland County), Raymond town (Cumberland County), Scarborough town (Cumberland County), South Portland city (Cumberland County), Standish town (Cumberland County), Westbrook city (Cumberland County), Windham town (Cumberland County), Yarmouth town (Cumberland County), Buxton town (York County), Hollis town (York County), Limington town (York County), Old Orchard Beach town (York 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 Portland: 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| York-Kittery-South Berwick | $1,678 | $2,202 | $2,640 |
| Cumberland County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,397 | $1,833 | $2,380 |
| York County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,412 | $1,716 | $2,298 |
| Bangor | $1,313 | $1,659 | $2,133 |
| Lewiston-Auburn | $1,218 | $1,586 | $2,050 |
| Sagadahoc County | $1,264 | $1,577 | $2,193 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Portland.