Carter 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

$7491-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$57,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$71,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Carter County is $909 a month, up 5.0% from $866 in FY2026. Carter County belongs to the Carter County, KY 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 Carter County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$745	$698	+6.7%	$671 – $819
1 bedroom	$749	$703	+6.5%	$675 – $823
2 bedrooms	$909	$866	+5.0%	$819 – $999
3 bedrooms	$1,246	$1,204	+3.5%	$1,122 – $1,370
4 bedrooms	$1,285	$1,254	+2.5%	$1,157 – $1,413

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 Carter 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?

$27,379median income of renter households

$740Median gross rent, all units

32%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

49%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $27,379 can afford about $684 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $909 is $225 (32.8%) 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.

Carter County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$740 ±$65
Median income of renter households	$27,379 ±$6,584
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.7% ±9.3
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	26.2% ±8.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,640

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$579	$740	+27.8%
Median renter household income	$17,103	$27,379	+60.1%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	46.6%	48.7%	+2.1 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 $910 to $1,180 depending on the ZIP code.

All 12 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
40351	$680	$760	$940	$1,210	$1,560
41132	$830	$840	$1,000	$1,290	$1,410
41141	$900	$940	$1,180	$1,510	$1,650
41142	$730	$750	$910	$1,250	$1,280
41143	$820	$830	$1,000	$1,370	$1,420
41146	$820	$830	$1,000	$1,370	$1,420
41164	$730	$750	$910	$1,250	$1,380
41168	$840	$850	$1,000	$1,320	$1,400
41173	$750	$750	$910	$1,250	$1,290
41179	$770	$770	$1,000	$1,280	$1,400
41180	$730	$750	$910	$1,120	$1,280
41181	$780	$790	$960	$1,260	$1,360

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

HUD income limits for Carter County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $71,500 (FY2025: $70,000, +2.1%). 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%	$41,750 +1.5%	$44,600 +1.4%	$47,500 +1.5%
Very low income (50%)	$25,200 +1.4%	$28,800 +1.4%	$32,400 +1.4%	$35,950 +1.4%	$38,850 +1.4%	$41,750 +1.5%	$44,600 +1.4%	$47,500 +1.5%
Low income (80%)	$40,250 +1.4%	$46,000 +1.3%	$51,750 +1.4%	$57,500 +1.4%	$62,100 +1.4%	$66,700 +1.4%	$71,300 +1.4%	$75,900 +1.4%

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.