Kentucky · FIPS 21093 · HUD FY 2027
Hardin County, Kentucky Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Hardin County is $1,087 a month (rent plus utilities), 6% below the Kentucky average of $1,155 and 38% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $31 (2.9%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $43,480 a year to afford it.
- $1,0872-bedroom FMR+$31 (+2.9%) vs FY 2026
- $8661-bedroom FMRKentucky: $946 · U.S.: $1,478
- $43,480Income for a 2-bedroom$21/hour full-time
- 35 of 1202BR rank in Kentucky1 = highest rent
| Unit | Hardin County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $860 | $841 | +$19 (+2.3%) | $854 | $1,379 | $34,400 |
| 1 bedroom | $866 | $846 | +$20 (+2.4%) | $946 | $1,478 | $34,640 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,087 | $1,056 | +$31 (+2.9%) | $1,155 | $1,761 | $43,480 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,505 | $1,469 | +$36 (+2.5%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $60,200 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,817 | $1,771 | +$46 (+2.6%) | $1,708 | $2,607 | $72,680 |
How Hardin County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Elizabethtown, KY metro FMR area, which covers 127,049 residents in 2 counties.
- Across Kentucky, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $909 (Wolfe County) to $1,442 (Boone County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $860, $866, $1,087, $1,505, $1,817. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 10 ZIP codes mostly in Hardin County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $960 to $1,240.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Hardin County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40121 | $970 | $980 | $1,240 | $1,710 | $2,010 | +$60 (+5.1%) | 14% above |
| 40160 | $810 | $810 | $1,020 | $1,410 | $1,700 | +$40 (+4.1%) | 6% below |
| 40162 | $940 | $940 | $1,200 | $1,650 | $1,960 | +$30 (+2.6%) | 10% above |
| 42701 | $930 | $930 | $1,170 | $1,620 | $1,960 | +$10 (+0.9%) | 8% above |
| 42712 | $760 | $770 | $960 | $1,330 | $1,600 | −$10 (−1.0%) | 12% below |
| 42724 | $840 | $840 | $1,060 | $1,470 | $1,770 | +$90 (+9.3%) | 2% below |
| 42732 | $760 | $790 | $980 | $1,360 | $1,600 | +$10 (+1.0%) | 10% below |
| 42740 | $760 | $770 | $960 | $1,330 | $1,600 | −$10 (−1.0%) | 12% below |
| 42776 | $760 | $770 | $960 | $1,330 | $1,600 | −$10 (−1.0%) | 12% below |
| 42788 | $760 | $770 | $960 | $1,330 | $1,600 | −$10 (−1.0%) | 12% below |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.