FMR Lookup › Washington › Longview-Kelso
Section 8 Fair Market Rent in Longview-Kelso, WA (FY2026)
HUD's official FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Longview-Kelso, WA 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 | $1,000 | $900 – $1,100 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,199 | $1,079 – $1,319 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,451 | $1,306 – $1,596 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,018 | $1,816 – $2,220 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,434 | $2,191 – $2,677 |
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 $1,451 — 7% above the Washington median of $1,354 across all 35 FMR areas in the state.
Counties and towns covered
The Longview-Kelso, WA FMR area is a metro area covering: Cowlitz 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 Longview-Kelso: Section 8 vs market rent, DSCR, or cash-on-cash return.
Comparable Washington markets by 2BR FMR
| FMR area | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kittitas County | $1,108 | $1,454 | $2,022 |
| Wenatchee-East Wenatchee | $1,143 | $1,500 | $2,063 |
| Yakima | $1,047 | $1,374 | $1,911 |
| Spokane | $1,193 | $1,531 | $2,088 |
| Jefferson County | $1,165 | $1,367 | $1,901 |
| Kennewick-Richland | $1,268 | $1,538 | $2,071 |
Informational only — not financial, legal, or lending advice. Confirm current payment standards with the housing authority serving Longview-Kelso.