County FMR · HUD FY2026
Kearny County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kearny County, KS - 13% above the US average.
- $1,087
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,426
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +9.9%
- YoY change
- +13%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Kearny is the 1st most expensive of 105 counties in Kansas by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 9.9% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #1
- most expensive of 105 in Kansas (2BR)
- +44%
- vs the state average
- $43,480
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +9.9%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (12.2%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (48.3%).
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kearny County, KS. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Kearny County, Kansas is $1,087 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,426/mo and a studio is $1,045/mo. This is 13% higher than the national average of $959 and 44% above the Kansas average of $753.
Rent increased9.9% from FY 2025 ($989), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $43,480/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kansas. Population: 3,964. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.6%, Census ACS). That's slower than Kansas's statewide growth of +1.0% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Kearny County
The Kearny County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Kansas'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 13% above the US average of $959 and 44% higher than the Kansas state average of $753. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$989 in FY 2025 to $1,087 in FY 2026 - a change of +9.9%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,087, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $43,480 per year (about $3,623/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,426 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 3,964 and a county median household income of $74,135, 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 | $931 | $1,045 | +$114 (+12.2%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $989 | $1,087 | +$98 (+9.9%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,298 | $1,426 | +$128 (+9.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,564 | $1,710 | +$146 (+9.3%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,721 | $1,888 | +$167 (+9.7%) |
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 Kearny 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.
Kearny County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Kearny sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,426 Top 17% higher than 83% 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 Kearny compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Kansas counties
- Johnson
Johnson County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Wyandotte
Wyandotte County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Leavenworth
Leavenworth County
$1,197 1BR FMR / mo
- Kearny
Kearny County
$1,087 1BR FMR / mo
- Douglas
Douglas County
$1,006 1BR FMR / mo
- Sedgwick
Sedgwick County
$849 1BR FMR / mo
- Shawnee
Shawnee County
$820 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Kearny is highlighted. Nearby Kansas counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Johnson County ($1,197), Wyandotte County ($1,197), Leavenworth County ($1,197), Kearny County (this county) ($1,087), Douglas County ($1,006), Sedgwick County ($849), Shawnee County ($820).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,087/mo compares to Kansas salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | KS Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $106,660 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,600 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $78,060 | 16.7% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $76,400 | 17.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $61,830 | 21.1% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $56,940 | 22.9% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $56,610 | 23% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $50,820 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $48,910 | 26.7% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $39,210 | 33.3% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $38,330 | 34% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $32,690 | 39.9% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,670 | 41.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $27,960 | 46.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,000 | 48.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kearny County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kearny (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 100.6% overall, from $542 to $1,087. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 27.9% (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 ↑9.9% | $1,045 | $1,087 | $1,426 |
| FY 2025 ↑19.2% | $931 | $989 | $1,298 |
| FY 2024 ↑27.9% | $783 | $830 | $1,091 |
| FY 2023 ↑15.1% | $633 | $649 | $854 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.5% | $560 | $564 | $742 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.6% | $543 | $545 | $718 |
| FY 2020 | $524 | $542 | $714 |
Where Kearny County Ranks in Kansas
Kearny 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 #105 of 105 counties in Kansas. Nearest by rank: Harvey County ($1,099), Sedgwick County ($1,099), Douglas County ($1,182), Johnson County ($1,358), Leavenworth County ($1,358), Linn County ($1,358), Miami County ($1,358), Wyandotte County ($1,358), Kearny County (this county) ($1,426).
Nearby Counties in Kansas
Largest counties by population in Kansas
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Kearny County? ▼
How does Kearny County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Kearny County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Kearny County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Kearny County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Kearny County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kearny County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Kearny County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Kearny'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 $1,087 implies about $43,480/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 Kearny 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.