Voucher-vs-Market Gap: San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
Open-data reference.
In San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area, the HUD 2-BR FMR ($2,623) compared to the Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent ($2,881) produces a -9.0% gap. Voucher and market rent are in balance.
- 97th percentile by gap severity (of 359 metros)
- HUD FMR × Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent
- Classification: borderline
What the Voucher-vs-Market Gap in San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area Tells You
In San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area (CBSA 41940), the HUD FY2025 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $2,623/month is joined with the Census ACS median 2-bedroom gross rent market median of $2,881/month. The derived gap is -9.0%, which PlainVoucher classifies as "borderline". Negative percentages mean the HUD voucher reference falls short of the median 2-BR rent; positive percentages mean the voucher overshoots the open market with room to spare.
Ranked against 359 metros we track, San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area sits at the 97th percentile by gap severity, meaning 97% of metros show an equal or smaller gap. With the gap within roughly 10% of market, voucher coverage in this metro is in rough balance, unit availability near the payment standard is realistic for most bedroom sizes, though still variable by neighborhood.
The gap metric is a PlainVoucher-derived figure, not a HUD-published statistic: we compute it as (HUD 2-BR FMR − Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent) ÷ Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent × 100, refreshed whenever either upstream dataset changes. Because the Census ACS median gross rent reflects rents paid by all current tenants (not asking rents for newly available units, which typically run higher), treat the gap as a directional signal, not a dollar-perfect forecast. Use it to compare San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area against peer metros in our gap directory, to flag portability candidates via the portability guide, or as a negotiation anchor with landlords at lease-up.
The numbers
- HUD 2-BR FMR (FY2025): $2,623/mo
- Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent: $2,881/mo
- Gap: -9.0%
- Classification: borderline
What this means
The gap in San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area is roughly balanced, within about 10% of market. Voucher holders here should expect to find units near the payment standard without dramatic out-of-pocket costs, though availability will vary by neighborhood and unit size.
How we compute this
Every month, the Census ACS median gross rent is joined with HUD's latest published Fair Market Rent for the metro. The formula:
gap % = (HUD 2-BR FMR − Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent) / Census ACS 2-BR median gross rent × 100
Positive gap = voucher falls short. Negative gap = voucher covers market. See methodology for the full cross-dataset join.
Related
- Full payment standards for San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area
- Payment Standards vs. FMR (guide)
- Voucher Portability, moving to a metro with better coverage
Nearby metro gaps
Compare the voucher-vs-market gap in metros near San Benito County, CA HUD Metro FMR Area:
- Bakersfield-Delano, CA MSA · CBSA 12540
- Chico, CA MSA · CBSA 17020
- El Centro, CA MSA · CBSA 20940
- Fresno, CA HUD Metro FMR Area · CBSA 23420
- Hanford-Corcoran, CA MSA · CBSA 25260
Source: HUD USER Fair Market Rent FY2025, Census ACS median gross rent. Computed at build time from public data. Gap percent is a derived metric unique to PlainVoucher, not a HUD-published figure. See our methodology for the full calculation.
⚠ Disclaimer. Median gross rent reflects rents paid by current tenants; asking rents for available units typically run higher, so a voucher holder searching today may face a tighter market than the median implies. Actual PHA payment standards can differ from HUD FMR by ±10%. Always confirm the current payment standard and market conditions with your PHA and a local housing counselor. PlainVoucher is not affiliated with HUD or any PHA.