What State Has the Highest Section 8 Housing? Top States for Section 8 Rentals in 2026
Jan, 9 2026
Section 8 Housing Coverage Calculator
How Section 8 Works
Section 8 vouchers cover part of your rent based on your income. You pay 30% of your monthly income toward rent, and the voucher covers the rest up to the local fair market rent limit.
The calculator uses typical fair market rent data for major U.S. cities. Actual coverage may vary based on your specific location and voucher amount.
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More than 5 million households in the U.S. rely on Section 8 housing vouchers to pay rent. But not all states are the same when it comes to how many people are on the program. If you’re asking what state has the highest Section 8 housing, the answer isn’t just about population size-it’s about poverty rates, housing costs, and how aggressively local agencies distribute vouchers.
California Leads by a Wide Margin
California has the highest number of households receiving Section 8 housing assistance in the country. As of early 2026, over 820,000 families in California are using vouchers to pay for rent. That’s more than the next three states combined. Why? It’s not because California has the most people-it’s because rent is so high and wages haven’t kept up.
In Los Angeles, a single person working full-time at minimum wage can’t afford a one-bedroom apartment without help. The fair market rent for a one-bedroom in L.A. County is around $2,100 a month. The average hourly wage for non-management jobs is $17.50. That’s $3,640 a month before taxes. Even after taxes, it’s not enough. Section 8 fills that gap for families who qualify.
California’s housing authority agencies-like the Los Angeles Housing Authority and San Francisco Housing Authority-have some of the longest waiting lists in the nation. Some people wait over 7 years just to get a voucher. But the state still has the highest active enrollment because of how many people qualify and how many vouchers get issued each year.
Other States with High Section 8 Enrollment
After California, the next top states for Section 8 usage are New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. Each of these has over 300,000 households on the program.
- New York has about 440,000 households using vouchers, mostly in New York City. The city’s public housing authority manages one of the largest Section 8 programs in the country.
- Texas has around 390,000 households, with heavy usage in Houston, Dallas, and Austin. The state’s rapid population growth has pushed housing costs up faster than wages.
- Florida has about 370,000 households. Many are retirees or seasonal workers who rely on Section 8 to afford apartments in cities like Miami and Orlando.
- Illinois has over 310,000 households, with Chicago accounting for nearly half of them.
These states all share a common trait: high housing costs relative to median income. In New York City, a two-bedroom apartment costs nearly $3,500 a month. In Miami, it’s $2,400. In Austin, $2,200. Even in smaller cities across these states, rent has outpaced income growth for over a decade.
Why Some States Have Fewer Section 8 Users
It’s not just about need-it’s about how the program is run. States like Wyoming, North Dakota, and Vermont have very low Section 8 enrollment, not because they don’t have poor residents, but because they have fewer people overall and lower rent costs.
In Wyoming, the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,100. The median household income is $72,000. That means fewer people qualify for assistance. Plus, rural areas often don’t have enough landlords who accept vouchers. Landlords in small towns may not want to deal with the paperwork, inspections, or delayed payments from housing authorities.
Some states also have stricter rules. In Georgia, for example, housing authorities limit how many vouchers they issue each year, even when there’s money available. In contrast, California and New York have more aggressive outreach and fewer caps on participation.
How Section 8 Works in Practice
Section 8 doesn’t give you a free apartment. It gives you a voucher that pays part of your rent directly to your landlord. You pay 30% of your monthly income toward rent. The voucher covers the rest-up to a limit set by the local housing authority.
For example, if your income is $1,800 a month, you pay $540. If your apartment costs $1,500, the voucher pays $960. But if your apartment costs $2,500, the voucher only pays up to the local fair market rent limit-say, $1,800. That means you’d have to pay $1,200 out of pocket, which might be too much.
This is why many Section 8 recipients live in lower-income neighborhoods. Landlords in wealthier areas often refuse vouchers. Even though it’s illegal to discriminate against voucher holders, many still find ways to say no-claiming the unit is “already rented” or that the inspection will take too long.
Waiting Lists and the Reality of Getting Help
Getting a Section 8 voucher isn’t easy. Most housing authorities open their waiting lists only once every few years. When they do, thousands of people sign up in a single day. In Detroit, the waiting list opened in 2023 and received over 100,000 applications in 48 hours.
Even after you get on the list, you might wait 3 to 10 years. Some people give up. Others move to states with shorter waits. That’s why you’ll see more Section 8 users in states like California and New York-not just because they have more need, but because they have more people who keep waiting.
There’s also a racial and geographic pattern. Black and Hispanic households are overrepresented in Section 8 programs, especially in urban areas. Rural communities of color often have even less access because there are fewer housing authorities and fewer landlords who accept vouchers.
What’s Changing in 2026?
The Biden administration has increased funding for Section 8 by $1.2 billion in 2025, with most of it going to states with the longest waiting lists. California received $280 million to expand voucher availability. New York got $190 million. These funds are helping shorten wait times in some cities.
Some states are also changing landlord rules. In 2024, California passed a law making it illegal for landlords to refuse Section 8 vouchers. Other states are following. Still, enforcement is weak. Many landlords still find loopholes.
Meanwhile, private companies are stepping in. Apps like HousingNow and VoucherFinder now help voucher holders find landlords who accept Section 8. These tools are making a small difference-but they’re not a fix for the system.
Is Section 8 Enough?
Section 8 is the largest federal housing program in the U.S. But it only helps about one in four eligible families. The rest are left to choose between paying more than half their income on rent, living in overcrowded homes, or ending up homeless.
The problem isn’t just the number of vouchers. It’s the gap between what the vouchers pay and what rent actually costs. In 2026, the average Section 8 voucher covers only 68% of the rent in high-cost cities. That means even with a voucher, many families still struggle.
Until wages rise, rent control expands, and more funding flows into the program, Section 8 will remain a lifeline for millions-but not a solution.
Which state has the most Section 8 housing vouchers in use?
California has the highest number of households using Section 8 vouchers, with over 820,000 families enrolled as of early 2026. This is due to high housing costs, large population, and aggressive voucher distribution by local housing authorities.
Why does California have so many Section 8 recipients?
California has the highest median rent in the U.S., with cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco seeing average two-bedroom rents over $3,000. Meanwhile, median incomes haven’t kept pace. Section 8 fills the gap for low-income families who otherwise couldn’t afford housing. The state also has a large population and active housing agencies that issue vouchers at higher rates than most other states.
How long is the Section 8 waiting list in California?
Waiting times vary by city. In Los Angeles, the list can be over 7 years long. In San Francisco, it’s around 5 to 8 years. Some smaller counties have shorter waits, but most major cities have multi-year backlogs. Waiting lists are often closed for years at a time due to high demand.
Can I move my Section 8 voucher to another state?
Yes, Section 8 vouchers are portable. If you’re approved in one state, you can use your voucher anywhere in the U.S. where there’s a public housing authority. But you must first be approved by your current housing authority and then contact the new agency to transfer your voucher. Some agencies have restrictions, so check with both before moving.
Do landlords have to accept Section 8 vouchers?
In most states, landlords can legally refuse Section 8 vouchers. However, California, New York, and a few other states have passed laws making it illegal to deny housing based on voucher use. Even in those states, landlords often find ways to avoid accepting vouchers, such as claiming the unit is rented or requiring higher credit scores.