County FMR · HUD FY2026

Shelby County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Shelby County, KY - 7% above the US average.

$1,027
1-bedroom FMR
$1,143
2-bedroom FMR
-0.5%
YoY change
+7%
vs US avg

The verdict

Shelby is the 24th most expensive of 120 counties in Kentucky by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,164 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties.

#1,164
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#24
most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
+29%
vs the state average
$41,080
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.6%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (45.4%).

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Shelby County, KY. Verify with HUD →

Shelby County, Kentucky carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,027 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,143/mo and a studio is $954/mo. That's 7% above the national benchmark of $959 and 29% above the Kentucky average of $794.

Rent decreased0.5% from FY 2025 ($1,032), roughly tracking inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $41,080/year for a 1-bedroom.

Observed renter burden: 32.7% of the 4,632 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: 48,105. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+3.9%, Census ACS). That's faster than Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.

FMR filing desk

Area SHELBY·COUNTY·KY·KY

Shelby County, KY: $1,027/mo 1BR · #1164 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA KY
  • 1BR-FMR $1,027
  • 2BR-FMR $1,143
  • RANK-MID #1,164
  • YOY-FLAT -0.5%
  • VSUS-NEAR +7%
  • VS-ST-HIGH +29% KY
  • INC-ROOM 15%
  • POP-SMALL 48K
  • PHOTO-FINISH Jefferson County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $924–$1,130
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($20 1BR gap)

Read with: How Fair Market Rent works

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $719 · US avg: $893
$954/mo
↑ 2.7% YoY +33% vs state +7% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $794 · US avg: $959
$1,027/mo
↓ 0.5% YoY +29% vs state +7% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $984 · US avg: $1,175
$1,143/mo
↓ 0.5% YoY +16% vs state -3% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,277 · US avg: $1,525
$1,417/mo
↓ 2.1% YoY +11% vs state -7% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $1,442 · US avg: $1,756
$1,697/mo
↑ 3.3% YoY +18% vs state -3% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $929
$954
+$25 (+2.7%)
1 Bedroom $1,032
$1,027
$-5 (-0.5%)
2 Bedroom $1,149
$1,143
$-6 (-0.5%)
3 Bedroom $1,448
$1,417
$-31 (-2.1%)
4 Bedroom $1,643
$1,697
+$54 (+3.3%)

Rent Burden Analysis

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

Studio
13.8%
Affordable
Need $38,160/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
14.9%
Affordable
Need $41,080/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
16.6%
Affordable
Need $45,720/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
20.6%
Affordable
Need $56,680/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
24.6%
Affordable
Need $67,880/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%16.6%
Shelby County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $82,671 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Kentucky rent burden →

Where Shelby sits among every US county

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

$1,143 Top 37% higher than 63% of 3,145 counties

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

1-bedroom FMR vs other Kentucky counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Shelby 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), Shelby County (this county) ($1,027), Warren County ($985), Hardin County ($846).

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

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

How a 1-bedroom at $1,027/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 11.6% Affordable
Registered Nurses $79,910 15.4% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $77,150 16% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $72,220 17.1% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $60,230 20.5% Affordable
Electricians $59,490 20.7% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $57,980 21.3% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $55,590 22.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $49,000 25.2% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $37,630 32.8% Stretched
Customer Service Representatives $37,580 32.8% Stretched
Janitors & Cleaners $30,470 40.4% Stretched
Retail Salespersons $29,450 41.8% Stretched
Teaching Assistants $29,220 42.2% Stretched
Fast Food & Counter Workers $27,170 45.4% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Kentucky) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

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

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Shelby (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 61.5% overall, from $636 to $1,027. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 30.1% (FY 2024), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$600$700$800$900$1,000$1,100 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $1,027
Shelby County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↓0.5% $954 $1,027 $1,143
FY 2025 ↑6.9% $929 $1,032 $1,149
FY 2024 ↑30.1% $862 $965 $1,130
FY 2023 ↑10.4% $691 $742 $941
FY 2022 ↑2.1% $641 $672 $884
FY 2021 ↑3.5% $612 $658 $867
FY 2020 $591 $636 $837
Total change (6yr): +61.5%
Annualized: +8.3%/yr
1 BR: $636 → $1,027

Part of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area

Shelby County is a outlying county of the Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN metropolitan statistical area, alongside 11 other metro-area counties.

Shelby County ranks #9 of 12 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Jefferson County ($1,047), Clark County ($1,047), Bullitt County ($1,047), Floyd County ($1,047), Oldham County ($1,047), Harrison County ($1,047), Spencer County ($1,047), Henry County ($1,047), Shelby County (this county) ($1,027), Meade County ($819), Nelson County ($781), Washington County ($753).

Jefferson County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Clark County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Bullitt County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Floyd County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Oldham County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Harrison County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Spencer County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Henry County
1 BR: $1,047/mo
Shelby County (this county)
1 BR: $1,027/mo
Meade County
1 BR: $819/mo
Nelson County
1 BR: $781/mo
Washington County
1 BR: $753/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Shelby 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).

Scott County
IA · 2 BR $1,143/mo
Rock Island County
IL · 2 BR $1,143/mo
Nash County
NC · 2 BR $1,143/mo
Henry County
IL · 2 BR $1,143/mo

Similar rent burden

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

Buffalo County
NE · 16.6% of income · 2 BR $1,031/mo
Marion County
KS · 16.6% of income · 2 BR $877/mo
Dickey County
ND · 16.6% of income · 2 BR $873/mo
Ozaukee County
WI · 16.6% of income · 2 BR $1,338/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 Shelby County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Shelby County is $1,027 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,143 and a studio is $954.
How does Shelby County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Shelby County is 7% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,027 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Shelby County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Shelby County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,143 ranks #1,164 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Shelby County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $41,080 ($3,423/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Shelby County.
Is rent going up or down in Shelby County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Shelby County decreased by 0.5% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $1,032 to $1,027.
Which jobs can afford rent in Shelby 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 $1,027/mo. 9 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Shelby County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Shelby County went from $636 in FY 2020 to $1,027 in FY 2026, a total change of +61.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Shelby County? ▼
In Shelby County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,027/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 Shelby County? ▼
For Shelby County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,027/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.