County FMR · HUD FY2026
Boone County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Boone County, KY - 10% above the US average.
- $1,051
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,353
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.8%
- YoY change
- +10%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Boone is the 6th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 5.8% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #6
- most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- +32%
- vs the state average
- $42,040
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +5.8%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.9%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.4%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Boone County, KY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Boone County, Kentucky is $1,051 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,353/mo and a studio is $958/mo. This is 10% higher than the national average of $959 and 32% above the Kentucky average of $794.
Rent increased5.8% from FY 2025 ($993), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $42,040/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 136,150. Population grew 6.6% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Boone County
The Boone County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Kentucky's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 10% above the US average of $959 and 32% higher than the Kentucky state average of $794. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$993 in FY 2025 to $1,051 in FY 2026 - a change of +5.8%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,051, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $42,040 per year (about $3,503/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,353 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 136,150 and a county median household income of $94,752, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $883 | $958 | +$75 (+8.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $993 | $1,051 | +$58 (+5.8%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,287 | $1,353 | +$66 (+5.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,707 | $1,785 | +$78 (+4.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,885 | $1,976 | +$91 (+4.8%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Boone County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Boone County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Boone sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,353 Top 21% higher than 79% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Boone compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Kentucky counties
- Fayette
Fayette County
$1,079 1BR FMR / mo
- Boone
Boone County
$1,051 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenton
Kenton County
$1,051 1BR FMR / mo
- Jefferson
Jefferson County
$1,047 1BR FMR / mo
- Warren
Warren County
$985 1BR FMR / mo
- Hardin
Hardin County
$846 1BR FMR / mo
- Daviess
Daviess County
$846 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Boone is highlighted. Nearby Kentucky counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fayette County ($1,079), Boone County (this county) ($1,051), Kenton County ($1,051), Jefferson County ($1,047), Warren County ($985), Hardin County ($846), Daviess County ($846).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,051/mo compares to Kentucky salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | KY Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $106,200 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,910 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,150 | 16.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,220 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | 20.9% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,490 | 21.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,980 | 21.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,590 | 22.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,000 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,630 | 33.5% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,580 | 33.6% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,470 | 41.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 42.8% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,220 | 43.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,170 | 46.4% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Boone County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Boone (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 59.7% overall, from $658 to $1,051. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +13.1% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.8% | $958 | $1,051 | $1,353 |
| FY 2025 ↑8.1% | $883 | $993 | $1,287 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.5% | $810 | $919 | $1,195 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.1% | $731 | $839 | $1,093 |
| FY 2022 ↑6.3% | $643 | $742 | $968 |
| FY 2021 ↑6.1% | $604 | $698 | $916 |
| FY 2020 | $568 | $658 | $865 |
Part of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN Metro Area
Boone County is a central county of the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 14 other metro-area counties.
Boone County ranks #12 of 15 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Hamilton County ($1,051), Butler County ($1,051), Warren County ($1,051), Clermont County ($1,051), Kenton County ($1,051), Campbell County ($1,051), Dearborn County ($1,051), Pendleton County ($1,051), Gallatin County ($1,051), Bracken County ($1,051), Ohio County ($1,051), Boone County (this county) ($1,051), Grant County ($899), Franklin County ($861), Brown County ($802).
Show all 15 counties in this metro area
Nearby Counties in Kentucky
Largest counties by population in Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Boone County? ▼
How does Boone County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Boone County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Boone County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Boone County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Boone County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Boone County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Boone County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Boone's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,051 implies about $42,040/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Boone can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.