Payment Standards — Gainesville, GA MSA
HUD FY2025 Fair Market Rent for Gainesville, GA MSA: a 2-bedroom voucher reference amount is $1,505/month. Compared to PlainRent's market rent for the metro, this is 0.6% above market. Actual PHA payment standards can be 90-110% of FMR.
- 0.6% above market
- FY2025 data (effective Oct 1, 2024)
- One of 4,764 FMR rows tracked
What HUD's FY2025 FMR for Gainesville, GA MSA Tells You
HUD's Fair Market Rent for the Gainesville, GA MSA CBSA (23580) in Fiscal Year 2025 sets the 2-bedroom reference at $1,505/month, with the 0-bedroom (studio) at $1,149, 1-bedroom at $1,359, 3-bedroom at $1,813, and 4-bedroom at $2,045/month. These values are HUD's published 40th-percentile rent estimates, effective October 1, 2024, and they anchor every Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard decision a local PHA makes in this metro.
Cross-joined against PlainRent's advertised 2-bedroom median of $1,514/month for the same metro, the HUD FMR produces a 0.6% above market — a gap indicator of how well vouchers track the live rental market here. PlainVoucher classifies this metro as "covers market" based on that gap — one of roughly 4,764 FMR rows we track annually. Local PHAs can set their payment standard anywhere from 90% to 110% of the HUD FMR, and may petition HUD for exception payment standards in higher-cost ZIP codes inside the metro.
The practical implication for voucher holders searching in Gainesville, GA MSA: treat the published 2-bedroom figure of $1,505/month as a benchmark, then ask the issuing PHA which exact percentage of FMR it currently uses, whether Small Area FMRs apply to your target ZIP, and whether exception payment standards are available. Landlords, in turn, read this same FMR as a signal of how much voucher income they can expect — making the bedroom-level breakdown above a useful reference for lease-up negotiations on both sides.
Bedroom-level payment standards
| Bedroom size | FMR (HUD FY2025) |
|---|---|
| Studio / 0-BR | $$1,149/mo |
| 1-Bedroom | $$1,359/mo |
| 2-Bedroom | $$1,505/mo |
| 3-Bedroom | $$1,813/mo |
| 4-Bedroom | $$2,045/mo |
Voucher vs. market rent
Cross-referencing the HUD FMR for a 2-bedroom unit against PlainRent's advertised median for the same metro:
- HUD 2-BR FMR: $$1,505/mo
- PlainRent 2-BR market: $$1,514/mo
- Gap: 0.6% above market
See the full voucher-vs-market gap analysis for Gainesville, GA MSA.
How payment standards work
HUD publishes Fair Market Rent as a reference point. Each local PHA sets its own payment standard at 90–110% of the FMR. Higher-cost ZIP codes within a metro may have exception payment standards above this range. Read Payment Standards vs. FMR for the full explanation.
Related
- Voucher-vs-market rent gap in Gainesville, GA MSA
- Payment Standards vs. FMR guide
- How to Apply for Section 8
Nearby metros
Payment standards in metros adjacent to Gainesville, GA MSA (within GA):
- Albany, GA MSA · CBSA 10500
- Athens-Clarke County, GA MSA · CBSA 12020
- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA HUD Metro FMR Area · CBSA 12060
- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC HUD Metro FMR Area · CBSA 12260
- Brunswick-St. Simons, GA MSA · CBSA 15260
Source: HUD USER Fair Market Rent (FY2025). Cross-referenced with PlainRent advertised-rent index. Source data updated annually. This page reflects the HUD-published FMR; your actual PHA payment standard may differ. See our methodology for the full cross-DB join.
⚠ Disclaimer. FMR is a HUD reference; local PHAs may set payment standards 90–110% of FMR, or request exception payment standards. Always confirm the current local standard with your PHA before signing a lease. PlainVoucher is not affiliated with HUD or any PHA.