Kentucky · FIPS 21125 · HUD FY 2027
Laurel County, Kentucky Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Laurel County is $943 a month (rent plus utilities), 18% below the Kentucky average of $1,155 and 46% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $62 (7.0%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $37,720 a year to afford it.
- $9432-bedroom FMR+$62 (+7.0%) vs FY 2026
- $7491-bedroom FMRKentucky: $946 · U.S.: $1,478
- $37,720Income for a 2-bedroom$18/hour full-time
- 56 of 1202BR rank in Kentucky1 = highest rent
| Unit | Laurel County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $674 | $607 | +$67 (+11.0%) | $854 | $1,379 | $26,960 |
| 1 bedroom | $749 | $676 | +$73 (+10.8%) | $946 | $1,478 | $29,960 |
| 2 bedrooms | $943 | $881 | +$62 (+7.0%) | $1,155 | $1,761 | $37,720 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,124 | $1,068 | +$56 (+5.2%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $44,960 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,315 | $1,213 | +$102 (+8.4%) | $1,708 | $2,607 | $52,600 |
How Laurel County compares
- Laurel County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Kentucky, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $909 (Wolfe County) to $1,442 (Boone County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $674, $749, $943, $1,124, $1,315. 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 5 ZIP codes mostly in Laurel County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $910 to $970.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Laurel County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40729 | $650 | $720 | $910 | $1,080 | $1,270 | +$30 (+3.4%) | 3% below |
| 40737 | $650 | $720 | $910 | $1,080 | $1,270 | +$40 (+4.6%) | 3% below |
| 40740 | $650 | $720 | $910 | $1,080 | $1,270 | +$40 (+4.6%) | 3% below |
| 40741 | $690 | $770 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,350 | +$70 (+7.8%) | 3% above |
| 40744 | $690 | $770 | $970 | $1,160 | $1,350 | +$90 (+10.2%) | 3% above |
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.