Kentucky · FIPS 21161 · HUD FY 2027
Mason County, Kentucky Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Mason County is $1,001 a month (rent plus utilities), 13% below the Kentucky average of $1,155 and 43% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $88 (9.6%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $40,040 a year to afford it.
- $1,0012-bedroom FMR+$88 (+9.6%) vs FY 2026
- $7971-bedroom FMRKentucky: $946 · U.S.: $1,478
- $40,040Income for a 2-bedroom$19/hour full-time
- 47 of 1202BR rank in Kentucky1 = highest rent
| Unit | Mason County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $715 | $629 | +$86 (+13.7%) | $854 | $1,379 | $28,600 |
| 1 bedroom | $797 | $764 | +$33 (+4.3%) | $946 | $1,478 | $31,880 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,001 | $913 | +$88 (+9.6%) | $1,155 | $1,761 | $40,040 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,196 | $1,111 | +$85 (+7.7%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $47,840 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,477 | $1,274 | +$203 (+15.9%) | $1,708 | $2,607 | $59,080 |
How Mason County compares
- Mason 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: $715, $797, $1,001, $1,196, $1,477. 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 4 ZIP codes mostly in Mason County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $990 to $1,260.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Mason County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41034 | $750 | $830 | $1,040 | $1,250 | $1,540 | +$60 (+6.1%) | 4% above |
| 41044 | $910 | $990 | $1,260 | $1,590 | $1,860 | +$280 (+28.6%) | 26% above |
| 41055 | $730 | $810 | $1,020 | $1,220 | $1,500 | +$100 (+10.9%) | 2% above |
| 41056 | $710 | $790 | $990 | $1,180 | $1,460 | +$80 (+8.8%) | 1% 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.