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.
- #24
- most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- +29%
- vs the state average
- $41,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- -0.5%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
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. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $41,080/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
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.
What these rents mean for Shelby County
The Shelby 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 7% above the US average of $959 and 29% higher than the Kentucky state average of $794. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$1,032 in FY 2025 to $1,027 in FY 2026 - a change of -0.5%, which tracks roughly with broader price trends.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,027, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $41,080 per year (about $3,423/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,143 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 48,105 and a county median household income of $82,671, 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 | $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%) |
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 Shelby 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.
Shelby County 2-bedroom 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
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
- 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
- Shelby
Shelby County
$1,027 1BR FMR / mo
- Warren
Warren County
$985 1BR FMR / mo
- Hardin
Hardin County
$846 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).
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 |
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.
| 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 |
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).
Nearby Counties in Kentucky
Largest counties by population in Kentucky
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Shelby County? ▼
How does Shelby County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Shelby County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Shelby County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Shelby County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Shelby County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Shelby County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Shelby County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Shelby'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 $1,027 implies about $41,080/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 Shelby 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.