Nebraska · FIPS 31099 · HUD FY 2027
Kearney County, Nebraska Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Kearney County is $1,056 a month (rent plus utilities), 16% below the Nebraska average of $1,260 and 40% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $63 (6.3%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $42,240 a year to afford it.
- $1,0562-bedroom FMR+$63 (+6.3%) vs FY 2026
- $8071-bedroom FMRNebraska: $1,036 · U.S.: $1,478
- $42,240Income for a 2-bedroom$20/hour full-time
- 22 of 932BR rank in Nebraska1 = highest rent
| Unit | Kearney County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $765 | $689 | +$76 (+11.0%) | $977 | $1,379 | $30,600 |
| 1 bedroom | $807 | $757 | +$50 (+6.6%) | $1,036 | $1,478 | $32,280 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,056 | $993 | +$63 (+6.3%) | $1,260 | $1,761 | $42,240 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,258 | $1,191 | +$67 (+5.6%) | $1,659 | $2,266 | $50,320 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,437 | $1,327 | +$110 (+8.3%) | $1,883 | $2,607 | $57,480 |
How Kearney County compares
- Kearney County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Nebraska, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Wheeler County) to $1,450 (Cass County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $765, $807, $1,056, $1,258, $1,437. 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 3 ZIP codes mostly in Kearney County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,010 to $1,500.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Kearney County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68924 | $1,090 | $1,150 | $1,500 | $1,790 | $2,050 | +$90 (+6.4%) | 42% above |
| 68945 | $760 | $820 | $1,010 | $1,280 | $1,400 | +$40 (+4.1%) | 4% below |
| 68959 | $730 | $780 | $1,010 | $1,210 | $1,390 | +$50 (+5.2%) | 4% 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.