Low Income Housing for Rent Near Me — 20 Real Resources, Websites, and Phone Numbers

The most-searched questions about finding low-income housing for rent — answered plainly before the full guide below.

• 1
  How do I find private landlords that accept Section 8 vouchers near me? GoSection8.com and AffordableHousing.com are the two largest searchable databases of Section 8-friendly landlords in the U.S. · Your local Public Housing Authority maintains a landlord list · Also try searching Zillow, Craigslist, or Facebook Marketplace with “Section 8 accepted” or “vouchers welcome”

  GoSection8.com is the most direct tool for this — it lets you search by city or ZIP code and filter specifically for landlords who have already indicated willingness to accept Housing Choice Vouchers. AffordableHousing.com operates a similar database and is partnered with dozens of local housing authorities, which means some listings are already pre-vetted through official channels. Beyond those two sites, your local Public Housing Authority typically maintains a landlord referral list that they share with active voucher holders — if you have a voucher in hand, call your PHA and ask for their landlord directory. One underused tactic: join local Facebook community groups and post that you have a Section 8 voucher and are looking for a rental. Many small landlords who accept vouchers never advertise it publicly but respond readily to direct outreach.
• 2
  Where can I live for $500 a month in the USA? $500/month for market-rate housing is nearly impossible in most U.S. cities in 2026 · Possible with a housing voucher (you pay 30% of income) · Small towns in Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi have the cheapest market rents · Shared housing (roommates) is the most realistic path to under $500 in any market

  The national average rent as of early 2026 is $1,626 per month. The state with the lowest average rent — Oklahoma — still averages about $909 per month for a one-bedroom. True $500-per-month standalone housing in the private market essentially only exists in the most rural small towns, in heavily deteriorated properties, or in subsidized housing where your payment is calculated as 30% of your income. For someone with $1,000 per month in income, a Section 8 voucher would reduce their rent payment to $300 per month. For someone on SSI (~$943 per month), the payment would be roughly $283 per month. So $500 per month or less is achievable through housing assistance — just not through the open market in most communities. If you are searching in the private market without a voucher, shared housing (splitting an apartment or house with one or two other people) is the most practical path to keeping housing costs under $500 per person per month.
• 3
  Where can you live in the United States for $1,000 a month? McAllen TX ($1,146/mo avg) · Toledo OH ($1,173/mo) · Wichita KS ($1,187/mo) · Little Rock AR ($1,195/mo) · Des Moines IA ($1,278/mo) · Scranton PA ($1,297/mo) · El Paso TX (residents spend just 20% of income on housing)

  Under $1,000 per month for a private-market one-bedroom is still achievable in specific markets. McAllen, Texas leads current data with a median rent of $1,146 — and with 92% of apartments being genuinely affordable relative to local incomes, it is one of the most practical relocation options for low-income renters. Toledo, Ohio ($1,173/mo) and Wichita, Kansas ($1,187/mo) follow. Smaller cities in Mississippi, Arkansas, and West Virginia also have pockets where one-bedroom units are available under $1,000. The key is that these are median figures — actual individual units within these cities can run lower. A $750-per-month one-bedroom exists in McAllen, Toledo, and similar cities, but requires active searching and quick action when listings appear. The broader point: if you are in a high-cost city and flexibility about location is possible, a move to one of these markets can reduce rent by 40–60% with no need for a housing voucher.
• 4
  What is the maximum income for low-income apartments? Section 8 / public housing: income must be at or below 50% of Area Median Income for your county · LIHTC apartments: typically 60% of AMI · Exact dollar limits vary by county — a limit that disqualifies you in one city may qualify you in the next

  There is no single national income number because HUD sets limits relative to your local area’s median income, which varies dramatically by location. For a single person in a low-income rural county, 50% of AMI might be $22,000 per year. In a high-cost metro area, 50% AMI for a single person could be $45,000 or more. HUD updates these numbers annually each April. The fastest way to find your specific limit: call your local Public Housing Authority, give them your family size and ask “What is the income limit for Section 8 in this county for a household of [your size]?” LIHTC properties (the most common type of below-market private apartments) typically require incomes below 60% of AMI. Some LIHTC properties have tiered eligibility — portions of the building for 30%, 50%, and 60% AMI households, with different rents at each tier.
• 5
  How do I find houses for rent that accept HUD by owner? Search GoSection8.com for “by owner” or “private landlord” listings in your ZIP code · Try “HUD accepted” or “Section 8 welcome” on Zillow, Facebook Marketplace, and local Craigslist · Contact your local PHA for their current landlord list · Call 211 for a local housing specialist

  Finding individual landlords (as opposed to management companies) who accept HUD vouchers requires a slightly different search approach. Property management companies often list their Section 8 acceptance on their main website. Individual property owners are harder to find because they rarely advertise it publicly — they accept vouchers quietly to ensure a steady payment stream, but don’t post banners about it. The best direct approach: go to GoSection8.com, enter your ZIP code, and look at the listing details. Many individual owner listings appear there. On Craigslist, search your city’s housing section and add “Section 8” to the search. On Zillow, you cannot filter by Section 8 acceptance, but adding “Section 8 ok” to a Zillow keyword search surfaces some listings. Your PHA’s landlord list is the most reliable resource — they maintain relationships with owners who have accepted vouchers before and are familiar with the inspection process.
• 6
  Are there low-income housing options with no waiting list right now? LIHTC / tax credit apartments often have shorter waits than Section 8 · Newly opened properties have units before demand builds · Smaller cities and rural areas have more availability · Check affordablehousinghub.org for currently open waitlists in your state

  Waitlist-free low-income housing is rare in major cities but genuinely exists in the right circumstances: newly completed LIHTC properties open with units available before demand accumulates; rural and smaller communities have more vacancy and shorter lists; and some LIHTC buildings have units at higher AMI tiers (60–80%) that see less demand. The single most practical resource for catching open-waitlist housing is affordablehousinghub.org, which tracks Section 8 and public housing waitlist openings in real time and lets you set email alerts by county. When a list opens, applying within 24 hours matters — some high-demand waitlists run a lottery and close after accepting a set number of applications, regardless of how quickly those applications arrive. More applications in the pool simply means your lottery odds improve. Also worth checking: housinglist.com and waitlistcheck.com, both of which track open waitlists across multiple programs.
• 7
  Where is the nicest but cheapest place to live in the U.S.? Knoxville TN (18% below national housing average · no state income tax) · Pittsburgh PA (most affordable large city housing market · median home $250K) · Columbus OH (strong economy + relatively affordable rents) · Raleigh-Durham NC (growing jobs + rents $1,500–1,600/mo vs national avg $1,800–1,900)

  The “nicest but cheapest” question is legitimately complicated because what makes a city “nice” is personal — but on the measurable dimensions of housing cost, job availability, safety, and quality of life ratings, a consistent set of cities keeps appearing in independent analyses. Knoxville, Tennessee charges 18% less for housing than the national average, has no state income tax, and was ranked consistently among top affordable retirement and relocation destinations. Pittsburgh has the lowest median home price ($250,000) of any major American metro, has undergone significant revitalization, and benefits from a strong healthcare and education job base. Columbus, Ohio offers a growing economy, rents meaningfully below coastal cities, and a large selection of both market-rate and subsidized affordable housing. Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina sits in the state’s research corridor, has added roughly 80,000 jobs in the past year, and still offers rents about $200-$300 below the national average despite strong growth.
• 8
  Can I use a Section 8 voucher in a different state or city? Yes — this is called “portability” · After living in your voucher-issuing PHA’s jurisdiction for 12 months (in most cases), you can port the voucher to any other PHA in the country · The receiving PHA must agree to administer it · Some PHAs with tight voucher supplies have restricted portability — ask your PHA first

  Voucher portability is one of the most underutilized tools available to Section 8 holders. If you live somewhere with very high rents or limited housing stock, you may be able to move your voucher to a city with more available units and lower rents — which can dramatically expand your options. The standard rule is that you must live in the PHA’s jurisdiction for at least 12 months before porting, though initial recipients are sometimes allowed to port immediately if they were living outside the jurisdiction when they applied. The practical steps: notify your current PHA in writing that you want to port; they contact the destination PHA; the destination PHA determines whether they will “absorb” the voucher (take over administration) or “bill” it back to your original PHA. Some PHAs in low-cost markets are more receptive to absorbing ported vouchers because they serve fewer high-demand renters.

These are the most effective websites, programs, and phone numbers for finding low-income rental housing that accepts HUD vouchers or offers below-market rents. Each one works differently — read the description to know which fits your situation best.

If relocation is a possibility, these cities offer the lowest market-rate rents combined with the most affordable-to-income ratios. Section 8 waitlists also tend to be more accessible in smaller cities than in major metros.

Use the buttons below to find Section 8 housing, public housing authorities, affordable apartments, and rental assistance programs near your current location.