County FMR · HUD FY2026

Jefferson County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Jefferson County, KY - 9% above the US average.

$1,047
1-bedroom FMR
$1,272
2-bedroom FMR
-4.3%
YoY change
+9%
vs US avg

The verdict

Jefferson is the 14th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #818 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#818
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#14
most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
+32%
vs the state average
$41,880
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.2%).

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

Jefferson County, Kentucky carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,047 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,272/mo and a studio is $966/mo. That's 9% above the national benchmark of $959 and 32% above the Kentucky average of $794.

Rent decreased4.3% from FY 2025 ($1,094), declining against the trend. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $41,880/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 43.1% of the 125,774 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: 779,232. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+1.3%, Census ACS). That's in line with Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area JEFFERSON·COUNTY·KY·KY

Jefferson County, KY: $1,047/mo 1BR · #818 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA KY
  • 1BR-FMR $1,047
  • 2BR-FMR $1,272
  • RANK-MID #818
  • YOY-DOWN -4.3%
  • VSUS-ABOVE +9%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +32% KY
  • INC-ROOM 19%
  • POP-MAJOR 779K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Fayette County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $942–$1,152
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Fayette ($32 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $719 · US avg: $893
$966/mo
↓ 3.7% YoY +34% vs state +8% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $794 · US avg: $959
$1,047/mo
↓ 4.3% YoY +32% vs state +9% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $984 · US avg: $1,175
$1,272/mo
↓ 4.4% YoY +29% vs state +8% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,277 · US avg: $1,525
$1,625/mo
↓ 5.2% YoY +27% vs state +7% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,442 · US avg: $1,756
$1,891/mo
↓ 4.9% YoY +31% vs state +8% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $1,003
$966
$-37 (-3.7%)
1 Bedroom $1,094
$1,047
$-47 (-4.3%)
2 Bedroom $1,330
$1,272
$-58 (-4.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,714
$1,625
$-89 (-5.2%)
4 Bedroom $1,989
$1,891
$-98 (-4.9%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
17.1%
Affordable
Need $38,640/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.5%
Affordable
Need $41,880/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
22.5%
Affordable
Need $50,880/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
28.7%
Affordable
Need $65,000/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
33.4%
Burdened
Need $75,640/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%22.5%
Jefferson County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $67,849 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Kentucky rent burden →

Where Jefferson sits among every US county

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

$1,272 Top 26% higher than 74% 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%). Below this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Jefferson compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Kentucky counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Jefferson 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 (this county) ($1,047), Warren County ($985), Hardin County ($846), Daviess County ($846).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,047/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 11.8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,910 15.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $77,150 16.3% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $72,220 17.4% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,230 20.9% Affordable
Electricians $59,490 21.1% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $57,980 21.7% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,590 22.6% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,000 25.6% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,630 33.4% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $37,580 33.4% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $30,470 41.2% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,450 42.7% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $29,220 43% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,170 46.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Kentucky) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Jefferson (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 46.8% overall, from $713 to $1,047. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 22.9% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100$1,200 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,047
Jefferson County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓4.3% $966 $1,047 $1,272
FY 2025 ↑1.6% $1,003 $1,094 $1,330
FY 2024 ↑22.9% $976 $1,077 $1,301
FY 2023 ↑9.5% $776 $876 $1,052
FY 2022 ↑5.3% $690 $800 $960
FY 2021 ↑6.6% $649 $760 $918
FY 2020 $614 $713 $872
Total change (6yr): +46.8%
Annualized: +6.6%/yr
1 BR: $713 → $1,047

Part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area

Jefferson County is a central county of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 11 other metro-area counties.

Jefferson County ranks #8 of 12 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Clark County ($1,047), Bullitt County ($1,047), Floyd County ($1,047), Oldham County ($1,047), Harrison County ($1,047), Spencer County ($1,047), Henry County ($1,047), Jefferson County (this county) ($1,047), Shelby County ($1,027), Meade County ($819), Nelson County ($781), Washington County ($753).

Clark County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Bullitt County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Floyd County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Oldham County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Harrison County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Spencer County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Henry County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Jefferson County (this county)
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Shelby County
1 BR: $1,027/mo
Meade County
1 BR: $819/mo
Nelson County
1 BR: $781/mo
Washington County
1 BR: $753/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Jefferson 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).

Clark County
IN · 2 BR $1,272/mo
Floyd County
IN · 2 BR $1,272/mo
Lyon County
NV · 2 BR $1,272/mo
Harrison County
IN · 2 BR $1,272/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Bradford County
FL · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $1,120/mo
Dunklin County
MO · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $888/mo
Berrien County
MI · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $1,184/mo
Mercer County
WV · 22.5% of income · 2 BR $896/mo

Nearby Counties in Kentucky

Largest counties by population in Kentucky

Showing the 8 largest of 119 other counties in Kentucky.

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
Madison County
1 BR: $785/mo Pop: 92,955
View all counties in Kentucky →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Jefferson County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Jefferson County is $1,047 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,272 and a studio is $966.
How does Jefferson County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Jefferson County is 9% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,047 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Jefferson County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Jefferson County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,272 ranks #818 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 Jefferson County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $41,880 ($3,490/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Jefferson County.
Is rent going up or down in Jefferson County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jefferson County decreased by 4.3% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,094 to $1,047.
Which jobs can afford rent in Jefferson 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 $1,047/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Jefferson County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Jefferson County went from $713 in FY 2020 to $1,047 in FY 2026, a total change of +46.8% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Jefferson County? ▼
In Jefferson County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,047/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 Jefferson County? ▼
For Jefferson County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,047/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.