County FMR · HUD FY2026
Lawrence County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Lawrence County, KY - 25% below the US average.
- $720
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $926
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +7.1%
- YoY change
- -25%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Lawrence is the 50th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #661 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 7.1% since FY 2025, a modest shift relative to most counties.
- #661
- most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #50
- most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- -9%
- vs the state average
- $28,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.8%); 14 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Lawrence County, KY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Lawrence County, Kentucky is $720 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $926/mo and a studio is $715/mo. This is 25% lower than the national average of $959 and 9% below the Kentucky average of $794.
Rent increased7.1% from FY 2025 ($672), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,800/year.
Observed renter burden: 34.1% of the 1,460 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 8.3%, 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 6.8% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 16,228. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.5%, Census ACS). That's in line with Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area LAWRENCE·COUNTY·KY·KY
Lawrence County, KY: $720/mo 1BR · #661 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA KY
- 1BR-FMR $720
- 2BR-FMR $926
- RANK-MID #661
- YOY-SURGE +7.1%
- VSUS-BELOW -25%
- VS-ST-LOW -9% KY
- INC-ROOM 19%
- POP-SMALL 16K
- PHOTO-NEAR Jefferson County
- VOUCH-90-110 $648–$792
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($327 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $634 | $715 | +$81 (+12.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $672 | $720 | +$48 (+7.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $881 | $926 | +$45 (+5.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,074 | $1,110 | +$36 (+3.4%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,233 | $1,341 | +$108 (+8.8%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Lawrence 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 Lawrence sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$926 higher than 21% 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 Lawrence 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
- Lawrence
Lawrence County
$720 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Lawrence 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), Lawrence County (this county) ($720).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $720/mo, most of these Kentucky occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.
| Occupation | KY Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $106,200 | 8.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,910 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,150 | 11.2% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,220 | 12% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,490 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,980 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,590 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,000 | 17.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,630 | 23% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,580 | 23% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,470 | 28.4% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 29.3% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,220 | 29.6% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,170 | 31.8% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Lawrence County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Lawrence (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 45.7% overall, from $494 to $720. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +14.7% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑7.1% | $715 | $720 | $926 |
| FY 2025 ↑3.9% | $634 | $672 | $881 |
| FY 2024 ↑14.7% | $616 | $647 | $850 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.2% | $538 | $564 | $742 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.8% | $482 | $512 | $674 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.8% | $475 | $503 | $663 |
| FY 2020 | $448 | $494 | $631 |
Part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metro Area
Lawrence County is a outlying county of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH metropolitan statistical area, alongside 7 other metro-area counties.
Lawrence County ranks #7 of 8 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Cabell County ($853), Lawrence County ($853), Boyd County ($853), Wayne County ($853), Greenup County ($853), Putnam County ($803), Lawrence County (this county) ($720), Carter County ($703).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Lawrence 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).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside KY).
Nearby Counties in Kentucky
Largest counties by population in Kentucky
Showing the 8 largest of 119 other counties in Kentucky.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Lawrence County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Lawrence County is $720 per month. A 2-bedroom is $926 and a studio is $715.
How does Lawrence County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Lawrence County is 25% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $720 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Lawrence County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Lawrence County's 2-bedroom FMR of $926 ranks #661 most affordable among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the lower-rent quarter of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Lawrence County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,800 ($2,400/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Lawrence County.
Is rent going up or down in Lawrence County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lawrence County increased by 7.1% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $672 to $720.
Which jobs can afford rent in Lawrence 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 $720/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Lawrence County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Lawrence County went from $494 in FY 2020 to $720 in FY 2026, a total change of +45.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Lawrence County?
In Lawrence County, the FY 2026 FMR of $720/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 Lawrence County?
For Lawrence County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($720/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Lawrence County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 8.3%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Lawrence County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 6.8% over the past 12 months, well above the national norm, a headwind for household budgets that can also soften local rent growth.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Lawrence'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 $720 implies about $28,800/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Kentucky counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Jefferson
- See where Lawrence 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.