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Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Schuylkill County has a HUD fair market rent of $1,068 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $876 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $20.54 an hour, full time.

Figure your move-in cash Section 8 here
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Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,068
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
30% less than in Pennsylvania
Typical rent
$876
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
28% less than in Pennsylvania
Wage needed
$20.54
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $42,720 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
42%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
12% less than in Pennsylvania

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Schuylkill County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

According to Zillow (ZORI), the typical asking rent in Schuylkill County was $1,147 a month in September 2026: 3.3% more than 12 months ago. It is an index of market listings, not a HUD limit. Zillow data

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $744 $14.31 $29,760
1 bedroom $816 $15.69 $32,640
2 bedrooms $1,068 $20.54 $42,720
3 bedrooms $1,392 $26.77 $55,680
4 bedrooms $1,443 $27.75 $57,720

HUD area: Schuylkill County, PA. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 62 ZIP codes in Schuylkill County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,010 in 17931 to $1,480 in 18252. 32 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($1,068).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Schuylkill County, 42% of renter households are in that position; in Pennsylvania, 48%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

42%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

13,863 households rent in Schuylkill County

  • Spend half or more of their income 20%
  • Spend 30% or more, but less than half 22%
  • Spend less than 30% 58%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Schuylkill 42%
  • Pennsylvania 48%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Schuylkill County

HUD lists 27 properties with homes for low-income households in Schuylkill County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

with tax credits (LIHTC)
14
HUD-assisted
6
public housing
7

1,876 homes in all; 1,754 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • Minersville High Rise Public housing 300 Lewis St, Minersville 17954 215 homes, 214 low-income · Run by Schuylkill County Housing Authority · Average payment: $388 a month · Average wait: 8 months · (570) 385-3400
  • Schuylkill Haven High Rise Public housing 255 Parkway, Schuylkill Haven 17972 198 low-income homes · Run by Schuylkill County Housing Authority · Average payment: $406 a month · Average wait: 6 months · (570) 385-3400
  • Shenandoah High Rise Public housing 100 S Main St, Shenandoah 17976 197 low-income homes · Run by Schuylkill County Housing Authority · Average payment: $387 a month · Average wait: 9 months · (570) 385-3400
  • Laurel Terrace Public housing 101 N 12th St, Pottsville 17901 168 homes, 167 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Pottsville · Average payment: $331 a month · Average wait: 10 months · (570) 628-2702
  • John OHara Public housing 800-01 N 2nd St, Pottsville 17901 139 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Pottsville · Average payment: $414 a month · Average wait: 13 months · (570) 628-2702
  • Mahanoy Elderly Housing HUD-assisted 10 W Centre St, Mahanoy City 17948 125 homes, 124 low-income · For older adults · (570) 773-2512
  • Laurel Court Apts Public housing 400 W Laurel Blvd, Pottsville 17901 132 homes, 121 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Pottsville · Average payment: $379 a month · Average wait: 4 months · (570) 628-2702
  • Market Square HUD-assisted 207 N. 12th st, Pottsville 17901 120 homes, 119 low-income · For families · (570) 622-0349
  • Fairmount Public housing 1100 W Arch St, Pottsville 17901 82 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the City of Pottsville · Average payment: $422 a month · Average wait: 2 months · (570) 628-2702
  • Majestic House HUD-assisted 201 E Broad St, Tamaqua 18252 74 homes, 73 low-income · For older adults · (570) 668-6372
  • Queen of Peace Apartments HUD-assisted 777 Water St, Pottsville 17901 48 low-income homes · For older adults · (570) 628-4504
  • Colonial Square Tax credit (LIHTC) 45 W Phillips St, Coaldale 18218 25 low-income homes · 1 bd: 25 · In service since 1994 · For older adults
  • Tower View Tax credit (LIHTC) 100 S 7th St, Tower City 17980 25 low-income homes · 1 bd: 25 · In service since 1995 · For older adults
  • Laurel Run Commons Tax credit (LIHTC) 406 Pitt St, Tamaqua 18252 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · In service since 1998 · For older adults
  • Neumann Apartments HUD-assisted 25 N Nichols St, Saint Clair 17970 24 low-income homes · For older adults · (570) 429-0699
  • Pine Grove Elderly Housing HUD-assisted 15 Conrad Richter Dr, Pine Grove 17963 24 low-income homes · For older adults · (570) 345-3808
  • Tremont Station Tax credit (LIHTC) 51 N Crescent St, Tremont 17981 24 low-income homes · 1 bd: 24 · In service since 1996 · For older adults
  • Independence Square Tax credit (LIHTC) 216 W Independence St, Orwigsburg 17961 20 low-income homes · 1 bd: 13 · 2 bd: 7 · In service since 2016 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Cherry Street Commons Tax credit (LIHTC) 24 E Frack ST, Frackville 17931 17 low-income homes · 1 bd: 1 · 2 bd: 11 · 3 bd: 5 · In service since 2019 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Girardville Tower Tax credit (LIHTC) 100 N 2nd St, Girardville 17935 16 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · In service since 1997 · For older adults
  • Barefield Gardens Tax credit (LIHTC) 2 Barefield Dr, Pottsville 17901 15 low-income homes · 3 bd: 15 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Olde Twnemanor Tax credit (LIHTC) 225 N Centre St, Pottsville 17901 15 low-income homes · 1 bd: 15 · In service since 1996 · For older adults
  • 401 Hazle ST Tax credit (LIHTC) 401 Hazle St, Tamaqua 18252 14 low-income homes · 1 bd: 4 · 2 bd: 5 · 3 bd: 5 · In service since 2007 · For families
  • 420 E Broad ST Tax credit (LIHTC) 420 E Broad St, Tamaqua 18252 12 low-income homes · 1 bd: 2 · 2 bd: 4 · 3 bd: 6 · In service since 2012 · For people with disabilities, families
  • Barefield Mills Tax credit (LIHTC) 911 W Race St, Pottsville 17901 11 low-income homes · 1 bd: 8 · 2 bd: 3 · In service since 2013 · For older adults, people with disabilities
  • Centre Street Apts Tax credit (LIHTC) 225 N Centre St, Pottsville 17901 6 low-income homes · 1 bd: 1 · 2 bd: 5 · In service since 1995 · For families
  • Abc Tamaqua Hi-Rise Tax credit (LIHTC) 222 E Broad St, Tamaqua 18252 106 homes

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Schuylkill County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. Your public housing agency runs it. 2 agencies serve in Schuylkill County. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
$18,100 $30,200 $48,300
$21,640 $34,500 $55,200
$27,320 $38,800 $62,100
$33,000 $43,100 $68,950
$38,680 $46,550 $74,500
$44,360 $50,000 $80,000
$50,040 $53,450 $85,500
$55,720 $56,900 $91,050

Area median income: $85,600. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Schuylkill County, PA. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $670 – $818
  • 1 bedroom $734 – $898
  • 2 bedrooms $961 – $1,175
  • 3 bedrooms $1,253 – $1,531
  • 4 bedrooms $1,299 – $1,587

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

Housing agencies in Pennsylvania Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in Pennsylvania

What Pennsylvania law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

How much can they charge for a deposit?
Up to 2 months of rent
68 P.S. §250.511a(a)-(b)
When must they return my deposit?
30 days
68 P.S. §250.512(a)
If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
10 days
68 P.S. §250.501(b)
How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
15 days
68 P.S. §250.501(b)
  • Only a court order can remove you68 P.S. §250.501 et seq.; 68 P.S. §399.1 et seq.

Help

Where to get help with rent in Schuylkill County

This HUD-approved agency has an office in Schuylkill County. They counsel for free or at low cost.

  • Schuylkill Community Action

    225 N Centre St, Pottsville · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Home improvement and repairs
    • and 5 more
    (570) 622-1995

Rental assistance programs

The ones that serve in Schuylkill County or the whole state, with what each page says about being open.

  • Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program

    Run by Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

    Pennsylvania yearly rebate for owners and renters 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older, based on income

    Open, per the source

    Up to $1,000

    See details
See every agency in Pennsylvania Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Schuylkill County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in Pennsylvania, the average home bill was $145 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Open the full tool

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$2,136

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$1,068
Security deposit
$1,068
Total
$2,136

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
Guide: the security depositGuide: avoiding rental scamsFamily budgetHow much rent can I afford?

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Schuylkill County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $744; 1 bedroom: $816; 2 bedrooms: $1,068; 3 bedrooms: $1,392; 4 bedrooms: $1,443. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Schuylkill County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,068) without spending more than 30% of income takes $20.54 an hour full time, or $42,720 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Schuylkill County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $43,100 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Schuylkill County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $961 and $1,175 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Schuylkill County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $1,010 in 17931 to $1,480 in 18252. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Schuylkill County?

HUD lists 27 properties with homes for low-income households in Schuylkill County: tax-credit apartments (LIHTC), HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Schuylkill County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Schuylkill County, 42% of renter households are in that position; in Pennsylvania, 48%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).