Bath County, KY: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$9092-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$6951-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$58,30080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$72,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Bath County is $909 a month, up 5.0% from $866 in FY2026. Bath County belongs to the Bath County, KY FMR area (non-metro county), so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Bath County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$650	$619	+5.0%	$585 – $715
1 bedroom	$695	$668	+4.0%	$626 – $764
2 bedrooms	$909	$866	+5.0%	$819 – $999
3 bedrooms	$1,124	$1,124	±0.0%	$1,012 – $1,236
4 bedrooms	$1,320	$1,360	−2.9%	$1,188 – $1,452

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Bath County that is typically $819 to $999 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$18,750median income of renter households (low reliability)

$659Median gross rent, all units

42%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

31%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $18,750 can afford about $469 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $909 is $440 (93.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $36,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $32,724 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Bath County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$659 ±$81
Median income of renter households	$18,750 ±$11,890
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	31.4% ±6.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.6% ±7.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	829

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$631	$659	+4.4%
Median renter household income	$31,745	$18,750	−40.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	43.4%	31.4%	−12.0 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

HUD income limits for Bath County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $72,900 (FY2025: $75,100, −2.9%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$15,960 +2.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$42,300 +1.8%	$45,200 +1.8%	$48,150 +1.9%
Very low income (50%)	$25,550 +1.8%	$29,200 +1.9%	$32,850 +1.9%	$36,450 +1.8%	$39,400 +1.8%	$42,300 +1.8%	$45,200 +1.8%	$48,150 +1.9%
Low income (80%)	$40,850 +1.7%	$46,650 +1.7%	$52,500 +1.7%	$58,300 +1.7%	$63,000 +1.8%	$67,650 +1.7%	$72,300 +1.7%	$77,000 +1.8%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.