County FMR · HUD FY2026
Rowan County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Rowan County, KY - 23% below the US average.
- $735
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $911
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +4.4%
- YoY change
- -23%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Rowan is the 56th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR.
- #56
- most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- -7%
- vs the state average
- $29,400
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +4.4%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (8.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (32.5%); 13 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 Rowan County, KY. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Rowan County, Kentucky is $735 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $911/mo and a studio is $628/mo. This is 23% lower than the national average of $959 and 7% below the Kentucky average of $794.
Rent increased4.4% from FY 2025 ($704), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $29,400/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 24,551. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Rowan County
The Rowan 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 23% below the US average of $959 and 7% lower than the Kentucky state average of $794. Year-over-year, the 1-bedroom FMR moved from$704 in FY 2025 to $735 in FY 2026 - a change of +4.4%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $735, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $29,400 per year (about $2,450/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $911 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 24,551 and a county median household income of $53,657, 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 | $601 | $628 | +$27 (+4.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $704 | $735 | +$31 (+4.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $876 | $911 | +$35 (+4.0%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,103 | $1,156 | +$53 (+4.8%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,471 | $1,528 | +$57 (+3.9%) |
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 Rowan 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.
Rowan County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Rowan sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$911 higher than 14% 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 Rowan 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
- Rowan
Rowan County
$735 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Rowan 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), Rowan County (this county) ($735).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $735/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 | 8.3% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $79,910 | 11% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $77,150 | 11.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $72,220 | 12.2% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | 14.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,490 | 14.8% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,980 | 15.2% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,590 | 15.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,000 | 18% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,630 | 23.4% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,580 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,470 | 28.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 29.9% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,220 | 30.2% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,170 | 32.5% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Rowan County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Rowan (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 21.1% overall, from $607 to $735. The increases have been fairly steady year to year, with no single jump exceeding 11.0% (FY 2024).
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑4.4% | $628 | $735 | $911 |
| FY 2025 ↑0.0% | $601 | $704 | $876 |
| FY 2024 ↑11.0% | $588 | $704 | $867 |
| FY 2023 ↑5.1% | $558 | $634 | $770 |
| FY 2022 ↓1.5% | $504 | $603 | $704 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.8% | $511 | $612 | $713 |
| FY 2020 | $491 | $607 | $691 |
Where Rowan County Ranks in Kentucky
Rowan 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 #65 of 120 counties in Kentucky. Nearest by rank: Barren County ($868), Laurel County ($881), Marshall County ($884), Garrard County ($900), Hopkins County ($900), Floyd County ($904), Madison County ($904), Montgomery County ($905), Rowan County (this county) ($911), Union County ($911), Boyle County ($913), Mason County ($913), Carlisle County ($915), Todd County ($918), Lawrence County ($926), Pulaski County ($926), Washington County ($929).
Nearby Counties in Kentucky
Largest counties by population in Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Rowan County? ▼
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How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Rowan County? ▼
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What this means for renters
Treat Rowan'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 $735 implies about $29,400/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 Rowan 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.