County FMR · HUD FY2026
Garrard County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Garrard County, KY - 14% below the US average.
- $821
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $900
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +1.1%
- YoY change
- -14%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Garrard is the 60th cheapest of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #410 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.
- #410
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #60
- cheapest of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- +3%
- vs the state average
- $32,840
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (36.3%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Garrard County, KY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Garrard County, Kentucky is $821 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $900/mo and a studio is $643/mo. This is 14% lower than the national average of $959 and 3% above the Kentucky average of $794.
Rent increased1.1% from FY 2025 ($812), roughly tracking inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $32,840/year for a 1-bedroom.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 17,175. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Garrard County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Garrard County's 2-bedroom of $900 ranks #410 most affordable of 3,145 US counties, in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
Garrard County's 1-bedroom FMR tracks close to the national mid-point (14% below the US average of $959), while sitting 3% above the Kentucky average of $794. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$812 in FY 2025 to $821 in FY 2026, a change of +1.1%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $821, the 30% rule points to $32,840/year (about $2,737/month) versus this county's median household income of $62,572. A 2-bedroom at $900 pushes the threshold higher.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $647 | $643 | $-4 (-0.6%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $812 | $821 | +$9 (+1.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $899 | $900 | +$1 (+0.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,101 | $1,156 | +$55 (+5.0%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,362 | $1,285 | $-77 (-5.7%) |
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 Garrard 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.
Where Garrard sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$900 higher than 13% 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 Garrard 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
- Garrard
Garrard County
$821 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Garrard 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), Garrard County (this county) ($821).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $821/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 | 9.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,910 | 12.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,150 | 12.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,220 | 13.6% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | 16.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,490 | 16.6% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,980 | 17% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,590 | 17.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,000 | 20.1% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,630 | 26.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,580 | 26.2% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,470 | 32.3% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 33.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,220 | 33.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,170 | 36.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Garrard County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Garrard (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 54.6% overall, from $531 to $821. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +20.0% in FY 2023, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑1.1% | $643 | $821 | $900 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.2% | $647 | $812 | $899 |
| FY 2024 ↑15.1% | $640 | $787 | $883 |
| FY 2023 ↑20.0% | $570 | $684 | $786 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.5% | $509 | $570 | $712 |
| FY 2021 ↑4.7% | $511 | $556 | $712 |
| FY 2020 | $481 | $531 | $677 |
Where Garrard County Ranks in Kentucky
Garrard 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 #60 of 120 counties in Kentucky. Nearest by rank: Taylor County ($866), Wayne County ($866), Webster County ($866), Whitley County ($866), Wolfe County ($866), Barren County ($868), Laurel County ($881), Marshall County ($884), Garrard County (this county) ($900), Hopkins County ($900), Floyd County ($904), Madison County ($904), Montgomery County ($905), Rowan County ($911), Union County ($911), Boyle County ($913), Mason County ($913).
Nearby Counties in Kentucky
Largest counties by population in Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Garrard County? ▼
How does Garrard County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Garrard County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Garrard County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Garrard County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Garrard County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Garrard County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Garrard County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Garrard County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Garrard'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 $821 implies about $32,840/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 Garrard 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.