Kentucky · FIPS 21117 · HUD FY 2027
Kenton County, Kentucky Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kenton County is $1,442 a month (rent plus utilities), 25% above the Kentucky average of $1,155 and 18% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $89 (6.6%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $57,680 a year to afford it.
- $1,4422-bedroom FMR+$89 (+6.6%) vs FY 2026
- $1,1281-bedroom FMRKentucky: $946 · U.S.: $1,478
- $57,680Income for a 2-bedroom$28/hour full-time
- 1 of 1202BR rank in Kentucky1 = highest rent
| Unit | Kenton County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,052 | $958 | +$94 (+9.8%) | $854 | $1,379 | $42,080 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,128 | $1,051 | +$77 (+7.3%) | $946 | $1,478 | $45,120 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,442 | $1,353 | +$89 (+6.6%) | $1,155 | $1,761 | $57,680 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,897 | $1,785 | +$112 (+6.3%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $75,880 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,141 | $1,976 | +$165 (+8.4%) | $1,708 | $2,607 | $85,640 |
How Kenton County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN metro FMR area, which covers 2,178,423 residents in 12 counties.
- Across Kentucky, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $909 (Wolfe County) to $1,442 (Boone County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $1,052, $1,128, $1,442, $1,897, $2,141. 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 8 ZIP codes mostly in Kenton County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,210 to $1,650.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Kenton County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41011 | $1,120 | $1,200 | $1,530 | $2,010 | $2,270 | +$140 (+10.1%) | 6% above |
| 41014 | $940 | $1,010 | $1,290 | $1,700 | $1,920 | +$90 (+7.5%) | 11% below |
| 41015 | $960 | $1,030 | $1,320 | $1,740 | $1,960 | +$100 (+8.2%) | 8% below |
| 41016 | $950 | $1,020 | $1,300 | $1,710 | $1,930 | +$170 (+15.0%) | 10% below |
| 41017 | $960 | $1,030 | $1,320 | $1,740 | $1,960 | +$80 (+6.5%) | 8% below |
| 41018 | $1,010 | $1,080 | $1,380 | $1,820 | $2,050 | +$40 (+3.0%) | 4% below |
| 41051 | $1,200 | $1,290 | $1,650 | $2,170 | $2,450 | +$100 (+6.5%) | 14% above |
| 41063 | $880 | $950 | $1,210 | $1,590 | $1,800 | +$10 (+0.8%) | 16% 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.