FMR Lookup › Virginia › Winchester
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Winchester, VA-WV (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Winchester, VA-WV MSA, 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 | $1,133 | $1,020 – $1,246 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,255 | $1,130 – $1,381 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,573 | $1,416 – $1,730 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,965 | $1,769 – $2,162 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,639 | $2,375 – $2,903 |
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 $1,573 — 54% above the Virginia median of $1,022 across all 64 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Winchester, VA-WV FMR area is a metro area covering: Frederick County, Winchester city, Hampshire 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 Winchester: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Virginia markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond | $1,507 | $1,655 | $2,072 |
| King George County | $1,211 | $1,469 | $2,043 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News | $1,512 | $1,713 | $2,376 |
| Culpeper County | $1,170 | $1,423 | $1,978 |
| Rappahannock County | $1,254 | $1,375 | $1,649 |
| Charlottesville | $1,602 | $1,824 | $2,218 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Winchester.