County FMR · HUD FY2026

Calloway County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Calloway County, KY - 13% below the US average.

$837
1-bedroom FMR
$1,098
2-bedroom FMR
+2.6%
YoY change
-13%
vs US avg

The verdict

Calloway is the 27th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,289 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,289
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#27
most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
+5%
vs the state average
$33,480
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.5%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Calloway County, KY. Verify with HUD →

Calloway County, Kentucky carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $837 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,098/mo and a studio is $785/mo. That's 13% below the national benchmark of $959 and 5% above the Kentucky average of $794.

Rent increased2.6% from FY 2025 ($816), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $33,480/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 40.8% of the 5,478 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 37,345. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-2.3%, Census ACS). That's slower than Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area CALLOWAY·COUNTY·KY·KY

Calloway County, KY: $837/mo 1BR · #1289 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA KY
  • 1BR-FMR $837
  • 2BR-FMR $1,098
  • RANK-MID #1,289
  • YOY-UP +2.6%
  • VSUS-BELOW -13%
  • VS-ST-NEAR +5% KY
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-SMALL 37K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Jefferson County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $753–$921
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($210 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $719 · US avg: $893
$785/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY +9% vs state -12% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $794 · US avg: $959
$837/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY +5% vs state -13% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $984 · US avg: $1,175
$1,098/mo
↑ 2.6% YoY +12% vs state -7% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,277 · US avg: $1,525
$1,317/mo
↑ 2.2% YoY +3% vs state -14% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,442 · US avg: $1,756
$1,454/mo
↑ 2.5% YoY +1% vs state -17% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $765
$785
+$20 (+2.6%)
1 Bedroom $816
$837
+$21 (+2.6%)
2 Bedroom $1,070
$1,098
+$28 (+2.6%)
3 Bedroom $1,289
$1,317
+$28 (+2.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,419
$1,454
+$35 (+2.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Calloway County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
18.2%
Affordable
Need $31,400/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
19.4%
Affordable
Need $33,480/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
25.4%
Affordable
Need $43,920/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
30.5%
Burdened
Need $52,680/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
33.6%
Burdened
Need $58,160/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%25.4%
Calloway County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $51,854 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Kentucky rent burden →

Where Calloway sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,098 higher than 59% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Calloway compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Kentucky counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Calloway 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), Calloway County (this county) ($837).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $837/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 9.5% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,910 12.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $77,150 13% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $72,220 13.9% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,230 16.7% Affordable
Electricians $59,490 16.9% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $57,980 17.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,590 18.1% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,000 20.5% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,630 26.7% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $37,580 26.7% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $30,470 33% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,450 34.1% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $29,220 34.4% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,170 37% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Kentucky) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Calloway County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Calloway (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 47.1% overall, from $569 to $837. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +15.7% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $837
Calloway County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑2.6% $785 $837 $1,098
FY 2025 ↑0.7% $765 $816 $1,070
FY 2024 ↑15.7% $778 $810 $1,064
FY 2023 ↑10.8% $695 $700 $922
FY 2022 ↑2.1% $560 $632 $831
FY 2021 ↑8.8% $538 $619 $816
FY 2020 $488 $569 $749
Total change (6yr): +47.1%
Annualized: +6.6%/yr
1 BR: $569 → $837

Part of the Murray, KY Micro Area

Calloway County is a central county of the Murray, KY micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Calloway County, both outside Kentucky so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.

Similar 2-bedroom FMR

Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside KY (FY2026).

Darlington County
SC · 2 BR $1,098/mo
Atascosa County
TX · 2 BR $1,098/mo
Curry County
NM · 2 BR $1,098/mo
Sedgwick County
KS · 2 BR $1,099/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside KY).

Hillsborough County
NH · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $2,127/mo
Tippecanoe County
IN · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $1,242/mo
Pulaski County
IL · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $916/mo
Charleston County
SC · 25.4% of income · 2 BR $1,787/mo

Nearby Counties in Kentucky

Largest counties by population in Kentucky

Showing the 8 largest of 119 other counties in Kentucky.

Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,047/mo Pop: 779,232
Fayette County
1 BR: $1,079/mo Pop: 321,276
Kenton County
1 BR: $1,051/mo Pop: 169,066
Boone County
1 BR: $1,051/mo Pop: 136,150
Warren County
1 BR: $985/mo Pop: 135,307
Hardin County
1 BR: $846/mo Pop: 111,005
Daviess County
1 BR: $846/mo Pop: 102,916
Campbell County
1 BR: $1,051/mo Pop: 93,122
View all counties in Kentucky →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Calloway County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Calloway County is $837 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,098 and a studio is $785.
How does Calloway County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Calloway County is 13% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $837 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Calloway County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Calloway County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,098 ranks #1,289 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Calloway County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $33,480 ($2,790/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Calloway County.
Is rent going up or down in Calloway County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Calloway County increased by 2.6% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $816 to $837.
Which jobs can afford rent in Calloway County? ▼
Based on Kentucky BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, Registered Nurses, General and Operations Managers can afford a 1-bedroom at $837/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Calloway County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Calloway County went from $569 in FY 2020 to $837 in FY 2026, a total change of +47.1% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Calloway County? ▼
In Calloway County, the FY 2026 FMR of $837/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Calloway County? ▼
For Calloway County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($837/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.