Boone 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).

$1,4422-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1281-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$87,90080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$109,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Boone County is $1,442 a month, up 6.6% from $1,353 in FY2026. Boone County belongs to the Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area FMR area, 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 Boone County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,052	$958	+9.8%	$947 – $1,157
1 bedroom	$1,128	$1,051	+7.3%	$1,016 – $1,240
2 bedrooms	$1,442	$1,353	+6.6%	$1,298 – $1,586
3 bedrooms	$1,897	$1,785	+6.3%	$1,708 – $2,086
4 bedrooms	$2,141	$1,976	+8.4%	$1,927 – $2,355

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 Boone County that is typically $1,298 to $1,586 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?

$63,905median income of renter households

$1,373Median gross rent, all units

26%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

40%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $63,905 can afford about $1,598 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,442 is $156 (9.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $57,680 a year under the 30% rule, or $51,912 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Boone County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,373 ±$37
Median income of renter households	$63,905 ±$6,113
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	40.3% ±4.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	20.1% ±3.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	11,223

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$986	$1,373	+39.2%
Median renter household income	$43,415	$63,905	+47.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	42.6%	40.3%	−2.3 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.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,010 to $2,160 depending on the ZIP code.

All 184 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
41001	$1,090	$1,170	$1,490	$1,960	$2,210
41002	$740	$790	$1,010	$1,340	$1,520
41003	$730	$800	$1,010	$1,380	$1,540
41004	$770	$830	$1,060	$1,390	$1,570
41005	$1,340	$1,440	$1,840	$2,420	$2,730
41006	$760	$810	$1,040	$1,370	$1,540
41007	$920	$1,010	$1,300	$1,710	$1,890
41011	$1,120	$1,200	$1,530	$2,010	$2,270
41012	$1,010	$1,080	$1,380	$1,820	$2,050
41014	$940	$1,010	$1,290	$1,700	$1,920
41015	$960	$1,030	$1,320	$1,740	$1,960
41016	$950	$1,020	$1,300	$1,710	$1,930
41017	$960	$1,030	$1,320	$1,740	$1,960
41018	$1,010	$1,080	$1,380	$1,820	$2,050
41022	$1,230	$1,310	$1,680	$2,210	$2,490
41025	$1,230	$1,310	$1,680	$2,210	$2,490
41030	$880	$940	$1,200	$1,460	$1,780
41033	$820	$880	$1,120	$1,450	$1,670
41034	$750	$830	$1,040	$1,250	$1,540
41035	$840	$900	$1,150	$1,370	$1,690
41040	$860	$920	$1,180	$1,550	$1,750
41042	$1,260	$1,350	$1,730	$2,280	$2,570
41043	$900	$970	$1,240	$1,630	$1,840
41044	$910	$990	$1,260	$1,590	$1,860
41045	$790	$850	$1,100	$1,380	$1,540
41046	$1,040	$1,110	$1,430	$1,880	$2,090
41048	$1,330	$1,430	$1,830	$2,410	$2,720
41051	$1,200	$1,290	$1,650	$2,170	$2,450
41053	$1,010	$1,080	$1,380	$1,820	$2,050
41059	$740	$790	$1,010	$1,340	$1,520
41061	$750	$810	$1,030	$1,360	$1,530
41063	$880	$950	$1,210	$1,590	$1,800
41064	$730	$780	$1,010	$1,280	$1,430
41071	$1,170	$1,250	$1,600	$2,110	$2,380
41072	$1,050	$1,130	$1,440	$1,890	$2,140
41073	$1,120	$1,210	$1,540	$2,030	$2,290
41074	$1,040	$1,120	$1,430	$1,880	$2,120
41075	$1,060	$1,130	$1,450	$1,910	$2,150
41076	$1,090	$1,170	$1,500	$1,970	$2,230
41080	$1,340	$1,440	$1,840	$2,420	$2,730
41083	$870	$930	$1,200	$1,500	$1,660
41085	$740	$790	$1,010	$1,340	$1,520
41086	$800	$860	$1,100	$1,480	$1,600
41091	$1,580	$1,690	$2,160	$2,840	$3,210
41092	$970	$1,040	$1,330	$1,750	$1,970
41094	$1,150	$1,240	$1,580	$2,080	$2,350
41095	$760	$810	$1,040	$1,370	$1,540
41097	$790	$850	$1,080	$1,300	$1,600
41099	$1,050	$1,130	$1,440	$1,890	$2,140
45001	$790	$850	$1,090	$1,430	$1,620
45002	$1,040	$1,120	$1,430	$1,880	$2,120
45003	$770	$800	$1,030	$1,360	$1,480
45005	$980	$1,060	$1,350	$1,780	$2,000
45011	$1,000	$1,070	$1,370	$1,800	$2,030
45012	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45013	$970	$1,040	$1,330	$1,750	$1,970
45014	$1,120	$1,210	$1,540	$2,030	$2,290
45015	$1,030	$1,100	$1,410	$1,860	$2,090
45018	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45030	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45032	$850	$910	$1,160	$1,530	$1,720
45033	$1,040	$1,120	$1,430	$1,880	$2,120
45034	$1,480	$1,580	$2,030	$2,660	$3,010
45036	$1,050	$1,130	$1,440	$1,890	$2,140
45039	$1,530	$1,640	$2,100	$2,760	$3,120
45040	$1,580	$1,690	$2,160	$2,840	$3,210
45041	$1,040	$1,120	$1,430	$1,880	$2,120
45042	$930	$1,000	$1,280	$1,680	$1,900
45044	$960	$1,030	$1,310	$1,720	$1,940
45050	$1,420	$1,530	$1,950	$2,570	$2,900
45051	$930	$990	$1,270	$1,670	$1,890
45052	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45053	$970	$1,040	$1,330	$1,740	$1,940
45054	$1,120	$1,200	$1,530	$2,010	$2,300
45055	$1,000	$1,070	$1,370	$1,800	$2,030
45056	$1,010	$1,080	$1,380	$1,820	$2,050
45061	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45062	$1,000	$1,070	$1,360	$1,790	$2,020
45063	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45064	$900	$940	$1,220	$1,610	$1,770
45065	$1,380	$1,480	$1,890	$2,490	$2,810
45066	$1,460	$1,570	$2,000	$2,630	$2,960
45067	$1,290	$1,390	$1,770	$2,330	$2,630
45068	$1,270	$1,360	$1,740	$2,280	$2,580
45069	$1,450	$1,560	$1,990	$2,620	$2,950
45070	$1,130	$1,150	$1,500	$1,990	$2,110
45071	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45102	$930	$1,000	$1,280	$1,680	$1,900
45103	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45106	$750	$800	$1,020	$1,350	$1,530
45107	$840	$880	$1,120	$1,460	$1,750
45111	$1,580	$1,690	$2,160	$2,840	$3,210
45112	$760	$800	$1,010	$1,360	$1,560
45113	$960	$1,010	$1,290	$1,680	$2,000
45118	$1,110	$1,130	$1,370	$1,890	$2,270
45120	$760	$800	$1,010	$1,360	$1,560
45121	$830	$830	$1,010	$1,410	$1,700
45122	$1,150	$1,240	$1,580	$2,080	$2,350
45130	$840	$860	$1,060	$1,440	$1,710
45140	$1,340	$1,440	$1,840	$2,420	$2,730
45147	$1,440	$1,550	$1,980	$2,600	$2,940
45150	$1,010	$1,090	$1,390	$1,830	$2,060
45152	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45153	$1,280	$1,380	$1,760	$2,320	$2,610
45156	$1,110	$1,190	$1,510	$2,000	$2,260
45157	$860	$920	$1,180	$1,550	$1,750
45158	$850	$920	$1,170	$1,540	$1,740
45160	$740	$790	$1,010	$1,340	$1,520
45162	$1,260	$1,350	$1,730	$2,280	$2,570
45174	$1,300	$1,430	$1,830	$2,420	$2,670
45176	$880	$920	$1,160	$1,550	$1,800
45201	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45202	$1,580	$1,690	$2,160	$2,840	$3,210
45203	$880	$940	$1,200	$1,580	$1,780
45204	$820	$880	$1,120	$1,470	$1,660
45205	$900	$960	$1,230	$1,620	$1,830
45206	$960	$1,030	$1,310	$1,720	$1,940
45207	$960	$1,030	$1,310	$1,720	$1,940
45208	$1,280	$1,380	$1,760	$2,320	$2,610
45209	$1,370	$1,470	$1,880	$2,470	$2,790
45211	$880	$950	$1,210	$1,590	$1,800
45212	$1,040	$1,120	$1,430	$1,880	$2,120
45213	$960	$1,030	$1,310	$1,720	$1,940
45214	$830	$890	$1,140	$1,500	$1,690
45215	$1,000	$1,070	$1,370	$1,800	$2,030
45216	$930	$1,000	$1,280	$1,680	$1,900
45217	$900	$960	$1,230	$1,620	$1,830
45218	$980	$1,060	$1,350	$1,780	$2,000
45219	$1,270	$1,360	$1,740	$2,290	$2,580
45220	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45222	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45223	$900	$960	$1,230	$1,620	$1,830
45224	$890	$950	$1,220	$1,610	$1,810
45225	$830	$890	$1,140	$1,500	$1,690
45226	$1,180	$1,270	$1,620	$2,130	$2,410
45227	$1,170	$1,260	$1,610	$2,120	$2,390
45229	$870	$930	$1,190	$1,570	$1,770
45230	$940	$1,010	$1,290	$1,700	$1,920
45231	$1,160	$1,240	$1,590	$2,090	$2,360
45232	$760	$810	$1,040	$1,370	$1,540
45233	$890	$950	$1,220	$1,610	$1,810
45234	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45235	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45236	$1,120	$1,210	$1,540	$2,030	$2,290
45237	$880	$940	$1,200	$1,580	$1,780
45238	$930	$1,000	$1,280	$1,680	$1,900
45239	$960	$1,030	$1,310	$1,720	$1,940
45240	$1,200	$1,290	$1,650	$2,170	$2,450
45241	$1,120	$1,210	$1,540	$2,030	$2,290
45242	$1,580	$1,690	$2,160	$2,840	$3,210
45243	$1,580	$1,690	$2,160	$2,840	$3,210
45244	$1,070	$1,150	$1,470	$1,930	$2,180
45245	$1,110	$1,190	$1,520	$2,000	$2,260
45246	$1,210	$1,300	$1,660	$2,180	$2,460
45247	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45248	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45249	$1,390	$1,490	$1,910	$2,510	$2,840
45250	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45251	$1,280	$1,370	$1,750	$2,300	$2,600
45252	$920	$990	$1,260	$1,660	$1,870
45253	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45254	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45255	$1,240	$1,330	$1,700	$2,240	$2,520
45258	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45262	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45263	$1,020	$1,100	$1,400	$1,840	$2,080
45267	$1,080	$1,150	$1,480	$1,940	$2,190
45327	$840	$930	$1,150	$1,500	$1,640
45342	$1,120	$1,240	$1,540	$2,000	$2,190
45458	$1,160	$1,280	$1,600	$2,080	$2,280
45999	$1,010	$1,080	$1,380	$1,820	$2,050
47001	$840	$900	$1,150	$1,510	$1,710
47011	$790	$830	$1,070	$1,340	$1,480
47012	$780	$880	$1,070	$1,400	$1,420
47017	$790	$850	$1,070	$1,380	$1,540
47018	$890	$950	$1,220	$1,600	$1,760
47022	$860	$930	$1,180	$1,550	$1,690
47025	$880	$940	$1,200	$1,580	$1,780
47031	$880	$900	$1,180	$1,530	$1,570
47032	$1,020	$1,090	$1,400	$1,840	$2,070
47038	$760	$780	$1,010	$1,230	$1,370
47040	$800	$850	$1,090	$1,420	$1,600
47041	$860	$910	$1,170	$1,530	$1,640
47060	$930	$1,010	$1,270	$1,670	$1,830

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Boone County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $109,900 (FY2025: $111,800, −1.7%). 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%)	$23,100 −1.7%	$26,400 −1.7%	$29,700 −1.7%	$33,000 −1.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$38,500 −1.7%	$44,000 −1.7%	$49,500 −1.7%	$54,950 −1.7%	$59,350 −1.7%	$63,750 −1.7%	$68,150 −1.7%	$72,550 −1.7%
Low income (80%)	$61,550 −1.8%	$70,350 −1.7%	$79,150 −1.7%	$87,900 −1.7%	$94,950 −1.8%	$102,000 −1.7%	$109,000 −1.8%	$116,050 −1.7%

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.