County FMR · HUD FY2026
Kenai Peninsula Borough Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK - 4% above the US average.
- $1,000
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,312
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +5.4%
- YoY change
- +4%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Kenai Peninsula is the 10th cheapest of 30 counties in Alaska by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #723 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 5.4% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #723
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #10
- cheapest of 30 in Alaska (2BR)
- -16%
- vs the state average
- $40,000
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10%), while Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary spend the most (39.3%); nearby Alaska counties range as much as 64% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska is $1,000 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,312/mo and a studio is $993/mo. This is 4% higher than the national average of $959 and 16% below the Alaska average of $1,194.
Rent increased5.4% from FY 2025 ($949), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $40,000/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 41.8% of the 5,551 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Alaska. Population: 59,235. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.8%, Census ACS). That's faster than Alaska's statewide growth of -0.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area KENAI·PENINSULA·BOROUGH·AK·AK
Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK: $1,000/mo 1BR · #723 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA AK
- 1BR-FMR $1,000
- 2BR-FMR $1,312
- RANK-MID #723
- YOY-SURGE +5.4%
- VSUS-NEAR +4%
- VS-ST-LOW -16% AK
- INC-ROOM 15%
- POP-MID 59K
- PHOTO-NEAR Anchorage Municipa
- VOUCH-90-110 $900–$1,100
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Anchorage Municipality ($243 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $943 | $993 | +$50 (+5.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $949 | $1,000 | +$51 (+5.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,245 | $1,312 | +$67 (+5.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,745 | $1,825 | +$80 (+4.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,091 | $2,201 | +$110 (+5.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough. 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 Kenai Peninsula sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,312 Top 23% higher than 77% 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 Kenai Peninsula compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Alaska counties
- Bethel
Bethel Census Area
$1,719 1BR FMR / mo
- Juneau City and
Juneau City and Borough
$1,340 1BR FMR / mo
- Fairbanks North Star
Fairbanks North Star Borough
$1,277 1BR FMR / mo
- Anchorage Municipality
Anchorage Municipality
$1,243 1BR FMR / mo
- Ketchikan Gateway
Ketchikan Gateway Borough
$1,238 1BR FMR / mo
- Matanuska-Susitna
Matanuska-Susitna Borough
$1,049 1BR FMR / mo
- Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula Borough
$1,000 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Kenai Peninsula is highlighted. Nearby Alaska counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Bethel Census Area ($1,719), Juneau City and Borough ($1,340), Fairbanks North Star Borough ($1,277), Anchorage Municipality ($1,243), Ketchikan Gateway Borough ($1,238), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,049), Kenai Peninsula Borough (this county) ($1,000).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $1,000/mo compares to Alaska salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | AK Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $119,600 | 10% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $120,470 | 10% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $110,690 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $100,300 | 12% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $81,950 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $81,860 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $76,290 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $64,890 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $61,120 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $50,440 | 23.8% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $44,760 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $39,040 | 30.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,940 | 32.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $34,430 | 34.9% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $30,560 | 39.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Kenai Peninsula Borough. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Kenai Peninsula (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 10.5% overall, from $905 to $1,000. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 10.1% (FY 2023).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑5.4% | $993 | $1,000 | $1,312 |
| FY 2025 ↓4.1% | $943 | $949 | $1,245 |
| FY 2024 ↑9.6% | $984 | $990 | $1,301 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.1% | $901 | $903 | $1,179 |
| FY 2022 ↑0.4% | $815 | $820 | $1,072 |
| FY 2021 ↓9.7% | $814 | $817 | $1,077 |
| FY 2020 | $896 | $905 | $1,192 |
Where Kenai Peninsula Borough Ranks in Alaska
Kenai Peninsula Borough 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 #10 of 30 counties in Alaska. Nearest by rank: Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area ($1,153), Denali Borough ($1,187), Wrangell City and Borough ($1,217), Bristol Bay Borough ($1,243), Dillingham Census Area ($1,247), Kenai Peninsula Borough (this county) ($1,312), Southeast Fairbanks Census Area ($1,313), Haines Borough ($1,321), Matanuska-Susitna Borough ($1,376), Aleutians East Borough ($1,385), Yakutat City and Borough ($1,388).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Kenai Peninsula Borough, both outside Alaska 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 AK (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside AK).
Nearby Counties in Alaska
Largest counties by population in Alaska
Showing the 8 largest of 29 other counties in Alaska.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kenai Peninsula Borough is $1,000 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,312 and a studio is $993.
How does Kenai Peninsula Borough rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough is 4% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,000 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Kenai Peninsula Borough rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Kenai Peninsula Borough's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,312 ranks #723 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the upper-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $40,000 ($3,333/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Is rent going up or down in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough increased by 5.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $949 to $1,000.
Which jobs can afford rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
Based on Alaska BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $1,000/mo. 11 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Kenai Peninsula Borough over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Kenai Peninsula Borough went from $905 in FY 2020 to $1,000 in FY 2026, a total change of +10.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
In Kenai Peninsula Borough, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,000/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 Kenai Peninsula Borough?
For Kenai Peninsula Borough, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,000/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Kenai Peninsula Borough?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 5.0% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Kenai Peninsula's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,000 implies about $40,000/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Alaska counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Anchorage Municipality
- See where Kenai Peninsula ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.