County FMR · HUD FY2026
Breathitt County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Breathitt County, KY - 26% below the US average.
- $714
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $866
- 2-bedroom FMR
- -2.1%
- YoY change
- -26%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Breathitt is the 4th cheapest of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #4
- cheapest of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- -10%
- vs the state average
- $28,560
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -2.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.5%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Breathitt County, KY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Breathitt County, Kentucky is $714 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $866/mo and a studio is $619/mo. This is 26% lower than the national average of $959 and 10% below the Kentucky average of $794.
Rent decreased2.1% from FY 2025 ($729), declining against the trend. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $28,560/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 13,580. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Breathitt County
The Breathitt 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 26% below the US average of $959 and 10% lower than the Kentucky state average of $794. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$729 in FY 2025 to $714 in FY 2026 - a change of -2.1%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $714, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $28,560 per year (about $2,380/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $866 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 13,580 and a county median household income of $41,101, 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 | $624 | $619 | $-5 (-0.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $729 | $714 | $-15 (-2.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $867 | $866 | $-1 (-0.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,204 | $1,204 | $0 (0.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,261 | $1,259 | $-2 (-0.2%) |
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 Breathitt 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.
Breathitt County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Breathitt sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$866 higher than 3% 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 Breathitt compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Kentucky counties
- Fayette
Fayette County
$1,079 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenton
Kenton County
$1,051 1BR FMR / mo
- Boone
Boone 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
- Breathitt
Breathitt County
$714 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Breathitt is highlighted. Nearby Kentucky counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Fayette County ($1,079), Kenton County ($1,051), Boone County ($1,051), Jefferson County ($1,047), Warren County ($985), Hardin County ($846), Breathitt County (this county) ($714).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $714/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 | 8.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,910 | 10.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,150 | 11.1% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,220 | 11.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | 14.2% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,490 | 14.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,980 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,590 | 15.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,000 | 17.5% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,630 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,580 | 22.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,470 | 28.1% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,220 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,170 | 31.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Breathitt County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Breathitt (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 49.1% overall, from $479 to $714. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 22.0% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↓2.1% | $619 | $714 | $866 |
| FY 2025 ↓1.9% | $624 | $729 | $867 |
| FY 2024 ↑22.0% | $616 | $743 | $850 |
| FY 2023 ↑14.9% | $538 | $609 | $742 |
| FY 2022 ↑5.4% | $482 | $530 | $674 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.0% | $475 | $503 | $663 |
| FY 2020 | $448 | $479 | $631 |
Where Breathitt County Ranks in Kentucky
Breathitt County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #4 of 120 counties in Kentucky. Nearest by rank: Adair County ($866), Bath County ($866), Bell County ($866), Breathitt County (this county) ($866), Breckinridge County ($866), Butler County ($866), Caldwell County ($866), Carter County ($866), Casey County ($866), Clay County ($866), Clinton County ($866), Crittenden County ($866).
Nearby Counties in Kentucky
Largest counties by population in Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Breathitt County? ▼
How does Breathitt County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Breathitt County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Breathitt County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Breathitt County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Breathitt County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Breathitt County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Breathitt County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Breathitt'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 $714 implies about $28,560/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 Breathitt 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.