Average Rent in Kentucky (2026) — HUD Fair Market Rents
The average two-bedroom rent in Kentucky is $1,105 per month by HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent data (population-weighted); two-bedroom FMRs range from $866 to $1,353 across 101 rent areas.
Fair Market Rent is HUD's annual estimate of what a modest rental costs in each local market — the 40th percentile of gross rents (rent plus tenant-paid utilities) for recent movers, published for studio through four-bedroom units and used to set Section 8 / Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. FMRs are a federal benchmark, not an asking-rent average: use them to sanity-check your pricing (statewide, Kentucky's typical two-bedroom FMR moved +0.8% versus FY 2025).
All 101 Kentucky FMR areas
Sorted by two-bedroom rent, highest first. 20 metro areas; the rest are non-metro county areas. "vs FY 2025" is the two-bedroom change from last year's FMR for the same area.
| Area | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR | 3 BR | 4 BR | 2 BR vs FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area Metro 6 countiesBoone County · Bracken County · Campbell County · Gallatin County · Kenton County · Pendleton County | $958 | $1,051 | $1,353 | $1,785 | $1,976 | +5.1% |
Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro 2 countiesChristian County · Trigg County | $1,090 | $1,094 | $1,346 | $1,871 | $2,258 | +9.5% |
Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA Metro 6 countiesBourbon County · Clark County · Fayette County · Jessamine County · Scott County · Woodford County | $883 | $1,079 | $1,272 | $1,743 | $1,940 | +9.2% |
Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area Metro 5 countiesBullitt County · Henry County · Jefferson County · Oldham County · Spencer County | $966 | $1,047 | $1,272 | $1,625 | $1,891 | -4.4% |
| Livingston County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $865 | $960 | $1,158 | $1,388 | $1,771 | — |
| Grant County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $823 | $899 | $1,155 | $1,385 | $1,678 | +5.2% |
Bowling Green, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro 2 countiesEdmonson County · Warren County | $889 | $985 | $1,153 | $1,384 | $1,806 | -1.7% |
| Shelby County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $954 | $1,027 | $1,143 | $1,417 | $1,697 | -0.5% |
Owensboro, KY MSA Metro 2 countiesDaviess County · McLean County | $840 | $846 | $1,110 | $1,466 | $1,470 | -1.6% |
| Calloway County, KY Non-metro | $785 | $837 | $1,098 | $1,317 | $1,454 | +2.6% |
| Franklin County, KY Non-metro | $747 | $859 | $1,083 | $1,410 | $1,680 | +1.8% |
| Meade County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $814 | $819 | $1,075 | $1,463 | $1,680 | — |
| Ballard County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $800 | $817 | $1,072 | $1,285 | $1,640 | — |
| McCracken County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $729 | $851 | $1,058 | $1,269 | $1,775 | — |
Elizabethtown, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro 2 countiesHardin County · Larue County | $841 | $846 | $1,056 | $1,469 | $1,771 | -1.8% |
| Simpson County, KY Non-metro | $754 | $872 | $1,055 | $1,405 | $1,473 | +3.2% |
| Anderson County, KY Non-metro | $745 | $951 | $1,042 | $1,323 | $1,454 | +4.4% |
| Hancock County, KY Non-metro | $769 | $774 | $1,016 | $1,345 | $1,347 | — |
| Nelson County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $770 | $781 | $1,016 | $1,360 | $1,704 | — |
| Trimble County, KY Non-metro | $715 | $780 | $1,001 | $1,320 | $1,325 | +11.3% |
| Allen County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $759 | $759 | $996 | $1,224 | $1,520 | +1.0% |
| Owen County, KY Non-metro | $711 | $758 | $995 | $1,329 | $1,389 | +4.8% |
| Pike County, KY Non-metro | $698 | $745 | $977 | $1,171 | $1,552 | -0.4% |
| Carroll County, KY Non-metro | $696 | $746 | $974 | $1,168 | $1,290 | +7.3% |
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area Metro 2 countiesBoyd County · Greenup County | $848 | $853 | $973 | $1,249 | $1,410 | +0.2% |
| Perry County, KY Non-metro | $685 | $731 | $959 | $1,150 | $1,270 | +1.8% |
| Henderson County, KY Non-metro | $711 | $764 | $949 | $1,220 | $1,414 | — |
| Lee County, KY Non-metro | $671 | $740 | $939 | $1,126 | $1,311 | +8.3% |
| Washington County, KY Non-metro | $664 | $708 | $929 | $1,226 | $1,323 | +0.4% |
| Lawrence County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $715 | $720 | $926 | $1,110 | $1,341 | — |
| Pulaski County, KY Non-metro | $662 | $706 | $926 | $1,110 | $1,355 | -1.4% |
| Todd County, KY Non-metro | $656 | $700 | $918 | $1,151 | $1,351 | +5.9% |
| Carlisle County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $683 | $717 | $915 | $1,173 | $1,399 | — |
| Boyle County, KY Non-metro | $693 | $698 | $913 | $1,200 | $1,351 | +4.7% |
| Mason County, KY Non-metro | $629 | $764 | $913 | $1,111 | $1,274 | +1.6% |
| Rowan County, KY Non-metro | $628 | $735 | $911 | $1,156 | $1,528 | +4.0% |
| Union County, KY Non-metro | $651 | $694 | $911 | $1,092 | $1,206 | +3.1% |
| Montgomery County, KY Non-metro | $647 | $690 | $905 | $1,194 | $1,198 | +4.4% |
| Floyd County, KY Non-metro | $646 | $689 | $904 | $1,109 | $1,212 | +0.1% |
| Madison County, KY Non-metro | $666 | $785 | $904 | $1,257 | $1,416 | -4.2% |
| Garrard County, KY Non-metro | $643 | $821 | $900 | $1,156 | $1,285 | +0.1% |
| Hopkins County, KY Non-metro | $662 | $686 | $900 | $1,163 | $1,330 | -2.1% |
| Marshall County, KY Non-metro | $632 | $772 | $884 | $1,191 | $1,269 | -0.9% |
| Laurel County, KY Non-metro | $607 | $676 | $881 | $1,068 | $1,213 | -0.9% |
| Barren County, KY Non-metro | $657 | $662 | $868 | $1,102 | $1,280 | -0.6% |
| Adair County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,246 | -0.1% |
| Bath County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $668 | $866 | $1,124 | $1,360 | -0.1% |
| Bell County, KY Non-metro | $597 | $790 | $866 | $1,133 | $1,294 | -0.1% |
| Breathitt County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $714 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,259 | -0.1% |
| Breckinridge County, KY Non-metro | $686 | $690 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Butler County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $660 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,232 | -0.1% |
| Caldwell County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $714 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Carter County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area Metro | $698 | $703 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,254 | -0.1% |
| Casey County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,169 | -0.1% |
| Clay County, KY Non-metro | $662 | $759 | $866 | $1,176 | $1,308 | -0.1% |
| Clinton County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,041 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Crittenden County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Cumberland County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $701 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Elliott County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,081 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Estill County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,120 | $1,259 | -0.1% |
| Fleming County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $703 | $866 | $1,142 | $1,147 | -0.1% |
| Fulton County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,453 | -0.1% |
| Graves County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,311 | -0.1% |
| Grayson County, KY Non-metro | $708 | $712 | $866 | $1,200 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Green County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,142 | $1,147 | -0.1% |
| Harlan County, KY Non-metro | $694 | $699 | $866 | $1,142 | $1,147 | -0.1% |
| Harrison County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,214 | -0.1% |
| Hart County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $747 | $866 | $1,077 | $1,198 | -0.1% |
| Hickman County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,142 | $1,147 | -0.1% |
| Jackson County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Johnson County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $696 | $866 | $1,154 | $1,280 | -0.1% |
| Knott County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Knox County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $745 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,453 | -0.1% |
| Leslie County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Letcher County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $759 | $866 | $1,166 | $1,316 | -0.1% |
| Lewis County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,136 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Lincoln County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $753 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,147 | -0.1% |
| Logan County, KY Non-metro | $632 | $660 | $866 | $1,178 | $1,311 | -0.1% |
| Lyon County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,453 | -0.1% |
| Magoffin County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Marion County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,093 | $1,300 | -0.1% |
| Martin County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,081 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| McCreary County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,069 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Menifee County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,110 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Mercer County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,453 | -0.1% |
| Metcalfe County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $755 | $866 | $1,081 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Monroe County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Morgan County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,272 | -0.1% |
| Muhlenberg County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,224 | -0.1% |
| Nicholas County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $696 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,311 | -0.1% |
| Ohio County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,043 | $1,218 | -0.1% |
| Owsley County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,115 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Powell County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,453 | -0.1% |
| Robertson County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,081 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Rockcastle County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $741 | $866 | $1,126 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Russell County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,147 | -0.1% |
| Taylor County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $790 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Wayne County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $677 | $866 | $1,204 | $1,453 | -0.1% |
| Webster County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,115 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
| Whitley County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $660 | $866 | $1,038 | $1,157 | -0.1% |
| Wolfe County, KY Non-metro | $619 | $683 | $866 | $1,081 | $1,209 | -0.1% |
Download this table as CSV — every area, studio through 4-bedroom, with county lists and year-over-year change.
About this data
Source: HUD FY 2026 Fair Market Rents, county-level file (revised), published at huduser.gov — a U.S. government work in the public domain, republished here unmodified. The typical-rent figure is the population-weighted average across the areas above (county populations from HUD's file); year-over-year comparisons match each area with last year's file by HUD area code. Effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026; last regenerated from HUD's file on 2026-07-20. FMRs cap what a housing authority can pay under the voucher program; your local Public Housing Authority's payment standard may be set between 90% and 110% of FMR. Full method notes: how the rent figures are computed.
Related on Landlord Atlas
- Kentucky landlord-tenant laws — security deposits, rent increase notice, late fees, and entry rules, cited to statute.
- Rental profitability calculator — test a Kentucky property's cash flow against its county's FMR.
- Rent increase notice creator — moving rent toward market? Generate a state-aware notice.