County FMR · HUD FY2026
Washington County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Washington County, KY - 26% below the US average.
- $708
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $929
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +0.4%
- YoY change
- -26%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Washington is the 48th 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)
- #48
- most expensive of 120 in Kentucky (2BR)
- -11%
- vs the state average
- $28,320
- 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 (31.3%); 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 Washington County, KY. Verify with HUD →
Washington County, Kentucky carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $708 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $929/mo and a studio is $664/mo. That's 26% below the national benchmark of $959 and 11% below the Kentucky average of $794.
Rent increased0.4% from FY 2025 ($705), roughly tracking inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $28,320/year.
Observed renter burden: 43.5% of the 1,016 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 2.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.1% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Kentucky. Population: 12,025. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+0.6%, Census ACS). That's in line with Kentucky's statewide growth of +1.6% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area WASHINGTON·COUNTY·KY·KY
Washington County, KY: $708/mo 1BR · #661 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA KY
- 1BR-FMR $708
- 2BR-FMR $929
- RANK-MID #661
- YOY-FLAT +0.4%
- VSUS-LOW -26%
- VS-ST-LOW -11% KY
- INC-ROOM 14%
- POP-SMALL 12K
- PHOTO-NEAR Jefferson County
- VOUCH-90-110 $637–$779
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Jefferson ($339 1BR gap)
Read with: Section 8 housing guide
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $666 | $664 | $-2 (-0.3%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $705 | $708 | +$3 (+0.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $925 | $929 | +$4 (+0.4%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,114 | $1,226 | +$112 (+10.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,266 | $1,323 | +$57 (+4.5%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Washington 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 Washington sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$929 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 Washington 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
- Washington
Washington County
$708 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Washington 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), Washington County (this county) ($708).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
With a below-average 1-bedroom at $708/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 | 11.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $60,230 | 14.1% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $59,490 | 14.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $57,980 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $55,590 | 15.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $49,000 | 17.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $37,630 | 22.6% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $37,580 | 22.6% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $30,470 | 27.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,450 | 28.8% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $29,220 | 29.1% | Affordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $27,170 | 31.3% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Washington County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Washington (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 42.5% overall, from $497 to $708. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.9% in FY 2024, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑0.4% | $664 | $708 | $929 |
| FY 2025 ↑2.2% | $666 | $705 | $925 |
| FY 2024 ↑16.9% | $657 | $690 | $907 |
| FY 2023 ↑12.6% | $563 | $590 | $776 |
| FY 2022 ↑1.9% | $484 | $524 | $676 |
| FY 2021 ↑3.4% | $483 | $514 | $674 |
| FY 2020 | $465 | $497 | $654 |
Where Washington County Ranks in Kentucky
Washington 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 #73 of 120 counties in Kentucky. Nearest by rank: Rowan 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 (this county) ($929), Lee County ($939), Henderson County ($949), Perry County ($959), Boyd County ($973), Greenup County ($973), Carroll County ($974), Pike County ($977), Owen County ($995).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Washington 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 Washington County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Washington County is $708 per month. A 2-bedroom is $929 and a studio is $664.
How does Washington County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Washington County is 26% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $708 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Washington County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Washington County's 2-bedroom FMR of $929 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 Washington County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $28,320 ($2,360/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Washington County.
Is rent going up or down in Washington County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Washington County increased by 0.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $705 to $708.
Which jobs can afford rent in Washington 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 $708/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Washington County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Washington County went from $497 in FY 2020 to $708 in FY 2026, a total change of +42.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Washington County?
In Washington County, the FY 2026 FMR of $708/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 Washington County?
For Washington County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($708/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Washington County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 2.7%, a tight rental market where HUD's annual FMR schedule can lag what landlords are actually asking.
What is the unemployment rate in Washington County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 4.1% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Washington'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 $708 implies about $28,320/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 Washington 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.