Carroll 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).

$1,0722-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8191-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$62,95080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$79,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Carroll County is $1,072 a month, up 10.1% from $974 in FY2026. Carroll County belongs to the Carroll 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 Carroll County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$766	$696	+10.1%	$690 – $842
1 bedroom	$819	$746	+9.8%	$738 – $900
2 bedrooms	$1,072	$974	+10.1%	$965 – $1,179
3 bedrooms	$1,277	$1,168	+9.3%	$1,150 – $1,404
4 bedrooms	$1,409	$1,290	+9.2%	$1,269 – $1,549

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 Carroll County that is typically $965 to $1,179 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?

$42,457median income of renter households

$910Median gross rent, all units

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

34%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $42,457 can afford about $1,061 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,072 is $11 (1.0%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $42,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $38,592 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Carroll County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$910 ±$73
Median income of renter households	$42,457 ±$12,257
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	33.6% ±12.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	17.7% ±9.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,297

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$650	$910	+40.0%
Median renter household income	$23,585	$42,457	+80.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.1%	33.6%	−14.5 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 Carroll County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $79,300 (FY2025: $80,000, −0.9%). 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%)	$16,550 +5.8%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +6.8%	$48,800 +9.9%	$51,950 +9.9%
Very low income (50%)	$27,550 +9.8%	$31,500 +9.9%	$35,450 +9.9%	$39,350 +9.9%	$42,500 +9.8%	$45,650 +9.9%	$48,800 +9.9%	$51,950 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$44,100 +9.8%	$50,400 +9.9%	$56,700 +9.9%	$62,950 +9.9%	$68,000 +9.9%	$73,050 +9.8%	$78,100 +9.8%	$83,100 +9.8%

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.