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.

#14
most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
+32%
vs the state average
$41,880
income to afford it (30% rule)
-4.3%
YoY, FY2025→2026

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. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $41,880/year based on the 30% affordability rule.

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.

What these rents mean for Jefferson County

The Jefferson 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 9% above the US average of $959 and 32% higher than the Kentucky state average of $794. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,094 in FY 2025 to $1,047 in FY 2026 - a change of -4.3%, which is unusual and suggests softening demand or revised HUD sampling.

At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,047, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $41,880 per year (about $3,490/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,272 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 779,232 and a county median household income of $67,849, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.

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%)

Affordability Snapshot

Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:

Required annual income for 1 BR
$41,880
$3,490/month gross
Required annual income for 2 BR
$50,880
$4,240/month gross

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.

Jefferson County 2-bedroom rent burden

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

Nearby Counties in Kentucky

Largest counties by population 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.
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).

What this means for renters

Treat Jefferson'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 $1,047 implies about $41,880/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 Jefferson 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.

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.