State FMR profile · HUD FY2026

Fair Market Rents in Kentucky

The average 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent across Kentucky is $794/mo - 17% below the US average.

$794
Avg 1BR FMR
120
Counties
5
Metro areas

The verdict

Kentucky's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent averages $984 - 16% below the US average, the 8th lowest of 51 states.

Kentucky's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom averages $984, 16% below the US average - the 8th lowest of 51 states. A household needs about $39,360 in annual income to afford it under HUD's 30% affordability rule, and rents vary 66% between the state's cheapest and priciest counties.

#8
most affordable of 51 states (2BR)
-16%
vs the US 2-bedroom average
$39,360
income to afford it (30% rule)
66%
gap, cheapest→priciest county

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents for 120 counties and 5 metro areas in KY. Verify with HUD →

What these rents mean for Kentucky

Across Kentucky's 120 counties and 5 metro areas, HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent averages $794/mo for a 1-bedroom (studio through 4-bedroom averages are broken out below). FMR is set at the county or metro FMR area level, not statewide, so that figure is the arithmetic average of every FMR area inside KY, weighted equally. Local housing authorities use each county's or metro's FMR (not the state average) to calibrate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards, typically ranging from 90% to 110% of FMR.

Benchmarked against the rest of the country, Kentucky's average 1-bedroom FMR of $794 is 17% below the US average of $959. Inside the state, rents are not uniform - the cheapest 1-bedroom FMR is in Butler County at $660, while the most expensive is in Trigg County at $1,094, a spread of roughly 66% between the lowest- and highest-cost counties. That intra-state dispersion is why urban voucher recipients, families relocating for jobs, and landlords setting Section 8 rents all need to check the specific FMR area rather than rely on a statewide figure.

For affordability, the 30% rule implies a household income of $31,760 per year (about $2,647/month) to afford Kentucky's average 1-bedroom at $794. With a state population of 4,510,725 and median household income of $62,417, a significant share of Kentucky renters fall above the 30% cost-burden threshold in higher-FMR counties. Pair these rent figures with Kentucky's rent burden rankings and year-over-year rent growth pages to see which counties are tightening fastest and which remain comparatively affordable.

Where Kentucky sits among all 50 states + DC

Average 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. every US state

$984 higher than 14% of 51 states

$900–$1,000: 11 states (22%). This entry sits in this band. $1,000–$1,100: 7 states (14%). Above this entry. $1,100–$1,200: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,200–$1,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $1,300–$1,400: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,500: 8 states (16%). Above this entry. $1,500–$1,600: 3 states (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,700: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,700–$1,800: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,800–$1,900: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $1,900–$2,000: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,100: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,100–$2,200: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,300: 2 states (4%). Above this entry. $2,300–$2,400: 0 states (0%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,500: 1 states (2%). Above this entry. KY $900 $2,500 every US state, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $0.1K-wide band; taller bars hold more states. 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

State Average vs National Average

Studio
$719
-19% vs US avg
1 BR
$794
-17% vs US avg
2 BR
$984
-16% vs US avg
3 BR
$1,277
-16% vs US avg
4 BR
$1,442
-18% vs US avg

Most expensive counties in Kentucky by 1-bedroom FMR

FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent, the highest-cost 10 of 120 KY counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Inside KY, 1-bedroom FMR runs from $660 in Butler County to $1,094 in Trigg County.

Source HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data As of FY2026

Cheapest Counties

Lowest FMR rental costs →

Most Expensive Counties

Highest FMR rental costs →

Rent Burden

% of income spent on rent →

Rent Growth

YoY rent trends by county →

Metro areas in Kentucky

Each metro FMR area applies one rent schedule across all its counties, ranked here by 1-bedroom FMR.

# Metro area Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
2 Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area $966
$1,047
$1,272$1,625$1,891
3 Elizabethtown, KY HUD Metro FMR Area $841
$846
$1,056$1,469$1,771
4 Owensboro, KY MSA $840
$846
$1,110$1,466$1,470
5 Allen County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area $759
$759
$996$1,224$1,520

Counties in Kentucky, ranked by rent (120)

All 120 counties with a published FY2026 Fair Market Rent, highest 1-bedroom first.

120 of 120
# County Studio1 BR2 BR3 BR4 BR
1 Christian County $1,090
$1,094
$1,346$1,871$2,258
2 Trigg County $1,090
$1,094
$1,346$1,871$2,258
3 Bourbon County $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
4 Clark County $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
5 Fayette County $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
6 Jessamine County $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
7 Scott County $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
8 Woodford County $883
$1,079
$1,272$1,743$1,940
9 Boone County $958
$1,051
$1,353$1,785$1,976
10 Bracken County $958
$1,051
$1,353$1,785$1,976
11 Campbell County $958
$1,051
$1,353$1,785$1,976
12 Gallatin County $958
$1,051
$1,353$1,785$1,976
13 Kenton County $958
$1,051
$1,353$1,785$1,976
14 Pendleton County $958
$1,051
$1,353$1,785$1,976
15 Bullitt County $966
$1,047
$1,272$1,625$1,891
16 Henry County $966
$1,047
$1,272$1,625$1,891
17 Jefferson County $966
$1,047
$1,272$1,625$1,891
18 Oldham County $966
$1,047
$1,272$1,625$1,891
19 Spencer County $966
$1,047
$1,272$1,625$1,891
20 Shelby County $954
$1,027
$1,143$1,417$1,697
21 Edmonson County $889
$985
$1,153$1,384$1,806
22 Warren County $889
$985
$1,153$1,384$1,806
23 Livingston County $865
$960
$1,158$1,388$1,771
24 Anderson County $745
$951
$1,042$1,323$1,454
25 Grant County $823
$899
$1,155$1,385$1,678
26 Simpson County $754
$872
$1,055$1,405$1,473
27 Franklin County $747
$859
$1,083$1,410$1,680
28 Boyd County $848
$853
$973$1,249$1,410
29 Greenup County $848
$853
$973$1,249$1,410
30 McCracken County $729
$851
$1,058$1,269$1,775
31 Daviess County $840
$846
$1,110$1,466$1,470
32 Hardin County $841
$846
$1,056$1,469$1,771
33 Larue County $841
$846
$1,056$1,469$1,771
34 McLean County $840
$846
$1,110$1,466$1,470
35 Calloway County $785
$837
$1,098$1,317$1,454
36 Garrard County $643
$821
$900$1,156$1,285
37 Meade County $814
$819
$1,075$1,463$1,680
38 Ballard County $800
$817
$1,072$1,285$1,640
39 Bell County $597
$790
$866$1,133$1,294
40 Casey County $619
$790
$866$1,038$1,169
41 Estill County $619
$790
$866$1,120$1,259
42 Green County $619
$790
$866$1,142$1,147
43 Harrison County $619
$790
$866$1,204$1,214
44 Leslie County $619
$790
$866$1,204$1,209
45 Magoffin County $619
$790
$866$1,038$1,209
46 McCreary County $619
$790
$866$1,069$1,209
47 Taylor County $619
$790
$866$1,204$1,209
48 Madison County $666
$785
$904$1,257$1,416
49 Nelson County $770
$781
$1,016$1,360$1,704
50 Trimble County $715
$780
$1,001$1,320$1,325
51 Hancock County $769
$774
$1,016$1,345$1,347
52 Marshall County $632
$772
$884$1,191$1,269
53 Henderson County $711
$764
$949$1,220$1,414
54 Mason County $629
$764
$913$1,111$1,274
55 Allen County $759
$759
$996$1,224$1,520
56 Clay County $662
$759
$866$1,176$1,308
57 Letcher County $619
$759
$866$1,166$1,316
58 Owen County $711
$758
$995$1,329$1,389
59 Metcalfe County $619
$755
$866$1,081$1,209
60 Lincoln County $619
$753
$866$1,038$1,147
61 Hart County $619
$747
$866$1,077$1,198
62 Carroll County $696
$746
$974$1,168$1,290
63 Knox County $619
$745
$866$1,038$1,453
64 Pike County $698
$745
$977$1,171$1,552
65 Rockcastle County $619
$741
$866$1,126$1,209
66 Lee County $671
$740
$939$1,126$1,311
67 Rowan County $628
$735
$911$1,156$1,528
68 Perry County $685
$731
$959$1,150$1,270
69 Lawrence County $715
$720
$926$1,110$1,341
70 Carlisle County $683
$717
$915$1,173$1,399
71 Breathitt County $619
$714
$866$1,204$1,259
72 Caldwell County $619
$714
$866$1,038$1,209
73 Grayson County $708
$712
$866$1,200$1,209
74 Washington County $664
$708
$929$1,226$1,323
75 Pulaski County $662
$706
$926$1,110$1,355
76 Carter County $698
$703
$866$1,204$1,254
77 Fleming County $619
$703
$866$1,142$1,147
78 Cumberland County $619
$701
$866$1,204$1,209
79 Todd County $656
$700
$918$1,151$1,351
80 Harlan County $694
$699
$866$1,142$1,147
81 Boyle County $693
$698
$913$1,200$1,351
82 Johnson County $619
$696
$866$1,154$1,280
83 Nicholas County $619
$696
$866$1,204$1,311
84 Union County $651
$694
$911$1,092$1,206
85 Breckinridge County $686
$690
$866$1,204$1,209
86 Montgomery County $647
$690
$905$1,194$1,198
87 Floyd County $646
$689
$904$1,109$1,212
88 Hopkins County $662
$686
$900$1,163$1,330
89 Adair County $619
$683
$866$1,204$1,246
90 Elliott County $619
$683
$866$1,081$1,209
91 Knott County $619
$683
$866$1,038$1,209
92 Martin County $619
$683
$866$1,081$1,209
93 Menifee County $619
$683
$866$1,110$1,209
94 Owsley County $619
$683
$866$1,115$1,209
95 Wolfe County $619
$683
$866$1,081$1,209
96 Wayne County $619
$677
$866$1,204$1,453
97 Laurel County $607
$676
$881$1,068$1,213
98 Bath County $619
$668
$866$1,124$1,360
99 Barren County $657
$662
$868$1,102$1,280
100 Butler County $660
$660
$866$1,204$1,232
101 Clinton County $619
$660
$866$1,041$1,209
102 Crittenden County $619
$660
$866$1,038$1,209
103 Fulton County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,453
104 Graves County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,311
105 Hickman County $619
$660
$866$1,142$1,147
106 Jackson County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,209
107 Lewis County $619
$660
$866$1,136$1,209
108 Logan County $632
$660
$866$1,178$1,311
109 Lyon County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,453
110 Marion County $619
$660
$866$1,093$1,300
111 Mercer County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,453
112 Monroe County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,209
113 Morgan County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,272
114 Muhlenberg County $619
$660
$866$1,038$1,224
115 Ohio County $619
$660
$866$1,043$1,218
116 Powell County $619
$660
$866$1,204$1,453
117 Robertson County $619
$660
$866$1,081$1,209
118 Russell County $619
$660
$866$1,038$1,147
119 Webster County $619
$660
$866$1,115$1,209
120 Whitley County $619
$660
$866$1,038$1,157

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Kentucky? ▼
The average FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Kentucky is $794 per month. A 2-bedroom averages $984.
How does Kentucky rent compare to the national average? ▼
Kentucky rents are 17% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here averages $794 vs $959 nationally.
Where is the cheapest rent in Kentucky? ▼
The most affordable county is Butler County with a 1-bedroom FMR of $660. The most expensive is Trigg County at $1,094.
What income do I need to afford rent in Kentucky? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need at least $31,760/year ($2,647/month) to afford the average 1-bedroom FMR in Kentucky.

Explore Kentucky rent data

Rent burden → Rent growth → Cheapest counties → Most expensive counties → National rent-burden rankings → Affordability calculator →

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

What this means for renters

Treat Kentucky's FY2026 average Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.

  • Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 average 1-bedroom FMR of $794 implies about $31,760/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
  • Kentucky's counties vary widely around this average -- compare specific counties before assuming this figure applies to yours. View county rankings
  • See where Kentucky ranks nationally on rent. National rankings

Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. This is a state-level average across 120 counties; actual asking rents in any specific county can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.

Related

Browse all counties → | Rankings →
Data sourced from HUD Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data. See our methodology for details. Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rent data (huduser.gov). Median household income and homeownership rate: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (census.gov/programs-surveys/acs).

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.