Renter Guide · Philadelphia · Updated October 2026
Income-Based & Affordable Apartments in Philadelphia
How income-based and low-income housing works in Philadelphia, who qualifies, how to apply, and how to find an apartment you can afford, explained plainly.
“Income-based apartments” is one of the most searched rental terms in Philadelphia, and one of the most misunderstood. Some renters mean housing tied to a government program; others just mean an apartment they can actually afford on their income. This guide covers both.
The short answer: income-based (or low-income) housing in Philadelphia comes through three program routes: a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) from the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), PHA public housing, and tax-credit (LIHTC) apartments with income limits. Each has its own eligibility rules, and most have waitlists. PHA’s voucher waitlist is closed right now. If you need a home sooner, or your income is above the limits, an affordable market-rate apartment, a well-kept home that simply rents for less, is often the fastest route.
Income-Based and Low-Income Housing in Philadelphia: Your Options
Three program routes, plus affordable market-rate homes, side by side.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8)
A voucher from PHA helps pay the rent on a home you choose from a private landlord. In Philadelphia, your share of the rent and utilities is set by household size: 28% of your adjusted monthly income for a household of one or two, 27% for three to five people, and 26% for six or more. PHA pays the landlord the rest, up to its payment standard for your ZIP code and voucher size. When you first move in, your share can’t be more than 40% of your adjusted monthly income. The voucher waitlist is closed right now: it last opened in January 2023, and PHA is still inviting applicants from that list.
PHA Public Housing
Apartments owned or managed by the Philadelphia Housing Authority, with rent based on your income. You apply through PHA’s Admissions office and can choose specific sites. PHA’s general public housing waitlist has been closed since 2013; PHA says senior-designated developments and some special programs remain open, so check its admissions page for the current status before you apply.
LIHTC / Tax-Credit Apartments
Privately owned buildings that set aside apartments for households under an income limit, usually 50% or 60% of the area median income (AMI). Rents are capped below market, but the rent is a fixed amount for the apartment, not a share of your own income, unless you also have a voucher. You apply to each property directly and document your household’s income.
Affordable Market-Rate
No program, no income cap, no waitlist: just apartments that rent for less because of their neighborhood, size or building type. Northeast Philadelphia has many of them, and you can apply as soon as one is available.
Who Qualifies? Philadelphia Income Limits for 2026
Eligibility comes down to your household size and your household’s total yearly income compared with the area median income. These are HUD’s 2026 limits for the Philadelphia area (Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington), in effect from May 1, 2026:
| Household size | 50% of AMIVery low income | 60% of AMITax-credit limit | 80% of AMILow income |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $42,950 | $51,540 | $68,750 |
| 2 people | $49,100 | $58,920 | $78,550 |
| 3 people | $55,250 | $66,300 | $88,350 |
| 4 people | $61,350 | $73,620 | $98,150 |
Source: HUD FY2026 income limits and multifamily tax subsidy (MTSP) income limits for Philadelphia County.
Each program decides which limit applies. Housing Choice Vouchers are generally limited to households at or below 50% of AMI, and most new vouchers go to households with the lowest incomes. Tax-credit buildings usually use the 50% or 60% limit, and each property sets its own.
How to Apply for Income-Based Housing in Philadelphia
- Check which programs fit.
Compare your household’s total yearly income before taxes with the limits above.
- Housing Choice Voucher.
Watch the PHA voucher page for the next waitlist opening; PHA announces it on TV, radio, in print and on its website. If you applied in 2023, you can check your status online or call PHA’s HCV Customer Support Center at 215-684-4300 with your six-digit client ID.
- Public housing.
Apply through PHA Admissions, which lists the sites and programs taking applications.
- Tax-credit apartments.
There’s no single place to search and apply. The City of Philadelphia’s affordable rental housing page points renters to PAHousingSearch.com and AffordableHousing.com; apply to each property directly.
- Get your paperwork ready.
Photo ID for each adult and proof of income for everyone in the household (pay stubs, benefit letters, tax returns). Keep your phone number, email and address up to date with every program, so you don’t miss a notice when your name comes up.
Affordable Homes With M&M Management
M&M Management manages well-maintained, sensibly priced apartment homes across Philadelphia, especially in Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods where your money goes further. These are market-rate rentals, not government income-restricted units, which means no program waitlist: if an apartment is available, you can apply online today. Many communities are pet-friendly and include conveniences like on-site laundry and off-street parking.
Jason CourtLawncrestView community →
Pearson CourtTorresdaleView community →
Fox Chase ParkNortheast PhiladelphiaView community →
Our Northeast Philadelphia apartment guide compares the neighborhoods, and if your credit history is thin, read renting with bad or no credit.
Questions to Ask Before You Apply
- Is the apartment available now, and when could I move in?
- What will I pay each month in total, including utilities, parking and any pet fees? (Our guide to Philly apartment fees explains the usual ones.)
- What does the application check, and which documents do you need from me?
- How do I request a repair, and who do I call in an emergency?
Renting for the first time? Our first-time renter guide walks through the whole process.
Find an Apartment You Can Actually Afford
Browse current availability and apply online, or call our team to talk through your options.
FAQs
What are income-based apartments?
Income-based (or income-restricted) apartments tie your rent or your eligibility to your household income, through a government program such as a Housing Choice Voucher, public housing or a tax-credit (LIHTC) building. With a voucher or in public housing, your rent is a share of your income; in a tax-credit building, the rent is a fixed amount set below market for households under an income limit.
Are low-income apartments the same as income-based apartments?
Mostly, yes. People use “low-income apartments” and “income-based apartments” for the same thing: housing tied to a program with an income limit. In Philadelphia that means a Housing Choice Voucher, PHA public housing or a tax-credit apartment. “Affordable apartments” is broader and also covers market-rate homes that simply rent for less.
What is considered low income in Philadelphia?
Under HUD’s 2026 limits for the Philadelphia area, “low income” (80% of the area median income) is up to $68,750 a year for one person and $98,150 for a family of four. “Very low income” (50%) is up to $42,950 for one person and $61,350 for a family of four. Each program sets which limit applies.
Is the Section 8 waitlist open in Philadelphia?
Not right now. PHA’s Housing Choice Voucher waitlist last opened in January 2023 and is closed. PHA says it will announce the next opening on TV, radio, in print and on its website, so check the PHA voucher page for updates.
How much is rent in income-based housing?
It depends on the program. With a PHA voucher, you pay 26% to 28% of your adjusted monthly income, depending on household size, and the voucher covers the rest up to PHA’s payment standard. Public housing rent is also based on income. In a tax-credit building, the rent is a fixed, below-market amount for the apartment rather than a share of your income.
Does M&M Management offer income-based apartments?
M&M’s apartments are market-rate, not income-restricted: well-kept and affordably priced, a strong option if you want value without a waitlist. Call our office at (215) 333-7700 and we’ll walk you through the steps for the apartment you’re interested in.
What’s the difference between income-based and affordable apartments?
Income-based apartments tie your rent or eligibility to your income through a formal program. Affordable market-rate apartments simply rent for less because of their location, size or building type, with no income limit.
Contact Us
For more information, reach out to the M&M Management leasing team:
9181 Academy Rd, Office LL-9, Philadelphia, PA 19114
Phone: (215) 333-7700
Email: office@mandm.management
M&M Management is an Equal Housing Opportunity provider: all are welcome, and reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities. Service and assistance animals are welcome as a reasonable accommodation. Income limits, program rules and waitlist status come from HUD and the Philadelphia Housing Authority and can change, so check with the program before you apply. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Availability, pricing, pet policies and community details vary and are subject to change; contact M&M Management to confirm current terms.