County FMR · HUD FY2026

Pulaski County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pulaski County, KY - 26% below the US average.

$706
1-bedroom FMR
$926
2-bedroom FMR
-1.4%
YoY change
-26%
vs US avg

The verdict

Pulaski is the 49th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #661 most affordable of 3,145 HUD counties.

#661
most affordable of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#49
most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
-11%
vs the state average
$28,240
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (31.2%); 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 Pulaski County, KY. Verify with HUD →

HUD sets the FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent for Pulaski County, Kentucky at $706 per month - the federal rental-assistance benchmark for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $926/mo and a studio is $662/mo. This is 26% lower than the national average of $959 and 11% below the Kentucky average of $794.

Rent decreased1.4% from FY 2025 ($716), declining against the trend. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,240/year.

Observed renter burden: 42.2% of the 7,293 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: 65,145. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.1%, Census ACS). That's in line with Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area PULASKI·COUNTY·KY·KY

Pulaski County, KY: $706/mo 1BR · #661 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA KY
  • 1BR-FMR $706
  • 2BR-FMR $926
  • RANK-MID #661
  • YOY-FLAT -1.4%
  • VSUS-LOW -26%
  • VS-ST-LOW -11% KY
  • INC-ROOM 17%
  • POP-MID 65K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Jefferson County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $635–$777
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($341 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $719 · US avg: $893
$662/mo
↓ 2.1% YoY -8% vs state -26% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $794 · US avg: $959
$706/mo
↓ 1.4% YoY -11% vs state -26% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $984 · US avg: $1,175
$926/mo
↓ 1.4% YoY -6% vs state -21% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,277 · US avg: $1,525
$1,110/mo
↓ 1.9% YoY -13% vs state -27% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,442 · US avg: $1,756
$1,355/mo
↓ 6.5% YoY -6% vs state -23% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $676
$662
$-14 (-2.1%)
1 Bedroom $716
$706
$-10 (-1.4%)
2 Bedroom $939
$926
$-13 (-1.4%)
3 Bedroom $1,131
$1,110
$-21 (-1.9%)
4 Bedroom $1,449
$1,355
$-94 (-6.5%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
15.6%
Affordable
Need $26,480/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
16.6%
Affordable
Need $28,240/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
21.8%
Affordable
Need $37,040/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
26.1%
Affordable
Need $44,400/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
31.9%
Burdened
Need $54,200/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%21.8%
Pulaski County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $50,943 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Kentucky rent burden →

Where Pulaski sits among every US county

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

$926 higher than 21% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $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 Pulaski compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Kentucky counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Pulaski 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), Pulaski County (this county) ($706).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $706/mo, most of these Kentucky occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation KY Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $106,200 8% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,910 10.6% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $77,150 11% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $72,220 11.7% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,230 14.1% Affordable
Electricians $59,490 14.2% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $57,980 14.6% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,590 15.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,000 17.3% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,630 22.5% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $37,580 22.5% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $30,470 27.8% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $29,450 28.8% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $29,220 29% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,170 31.2% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Kentucky) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pulaski (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 42.9% overall, from $494 to $706. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.7% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.

$450$500$550$600$650$700$750 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $706
Pulaski County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓1.4% $662 $706 $926
FY 2025 ↑2.4% $676 $716 $939
FY 2024 ↑19.7% $618 $699 $912
FY 2023 ↑9.0% $512 $584 $766
FY 2022 ↑1.3% $468 $536 $705
FY 2021 ↑7.1% $460 $529 $697
FY 2020 $422 $494 $648
Total change (6yr): +42.9%
Annualized: +6.1%/yr
1 BR: $494 → $706

Part of the Somerset, KY Micro Area

Pulaski County is a central county of the Somerset, KY micropolitan statistical area.

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Pulaski 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).

McMinn County
TN · 2 BR $926/mo
Adair County
IA · 2 BR $926/mo
Robeson County
NC · 2 BR $925/mo
Etowah County
AL · 2 BR $927/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Clark County
OH · 21.8% of income · 2 BR $1,106/mo
Rabun County
GA · 21.8% of income · 2 BR $1,117/mo
Luce County
MI · 21.8% of income · 2 BR $988/mo
Greene County
NC · 21.8% of income · 2 BR $925/mo

Nearby Counties in Kentucky

Largest counties by population in Kentucky

Showing the 8 largest of 119 other counties in Kentucky.

Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,047/mo Pop: 779,232
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
View all counties in Kentucky →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Pulaski County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Pulaski County is $706 per month. A 2-bedroom is $926 and a studio is $662.
How does Pulaski County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Pulaski County is 26% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $706 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Pulaski County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Pulaski 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 Pulaski County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,240 ($2,353/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Pulaski County.
Is rent going up or down in Pulaski County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pulaski County decreased by 1.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $716 to $706.
Which jobs can afford rent in Pulaski 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 $706/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Pulaski County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pulaski County went from $494 in FY 2020 to $706 in FY 2026, a total change of +42.9% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pulaski County? ▼
In Pulaski County, the FY 2026 FMR of $706/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 Pulaski County? ▼
For Pulaski County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($706/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.