FMR Lookup › Maine › Waldo County
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Waldo County, ME (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Waldo 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 | $1,156 | $1,040 – $1,272 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,163 | $1,047 – $1,279 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,438 | $1,294 – $1,582 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,865 | $1,679 – $2,052 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,025 | $1,823 – $2,228 |
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 $1,438 — right at 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: Belfast city (Waldo County), Belmont town (Waldo County), Brooks town (Waldo County), Burnham town (Waldo County), Frankfort town (Waldo County), Freedom town (Waldo County), Islesboro town (Waldo County), Jackson town (Waldo County), Knox town (Waldo County), Liberty town (Waldo County), Lincolnville town (Waldo County), Monroe town (Waldo County), Montville town (Waldo County), Morrill town (Waldo County), Northport town (Waldo County), Palermo town (Waldo County), Prospect town (Waldo County), Searsmont town (Waldo County), Searsport town (Waldo County), Stockton Springs town (Waldo County), Swanville town (Waldo County), Thorndike town (Waldo County), Troy town (Waldo County), Unity town (Waldo County), Waldo town (Waldo County), Winterport town (Waldo 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 Waldo 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 |
| Kennebec County | $1,090 | $1,416 | $1,819 |
| Lincoln County | $1,280 | $1,403 | $1,936 |
| Penobscot County, ME (part) HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,061 | $1,392 | $1,799 |
| Hancock County | $1,234 | $1,501 | $2,047 |
| Knox County | $1,270 | $1,526 | $1,928 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Waldo County.