Hancock 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).

$9622-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7841-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$64,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$80,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hancock County is $962 a month, down 5.3% from $1,016 in FY2026. Hancock County belongs to the Hancock 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 Hancock County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$693	$769	−9.9%	$624 – $762
1 bedroom	$784	$774	+1.3%	$706 – $862
2 bedrooms	$962	$1,016	−5.3%	$866 – $1,058
3 bedrooms	$1,276	$1,345	−5.1%	$1,149 – $1,403
4 bedrooms	$1,344	$1,347	−0.2%	$1,210 – $1,478

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 Hancock County that is typically $866 to $1,058 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?

$37,383median income of renter households

$740Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

36%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $37,383 can afford about $935 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $962 is $27 (2.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,632 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hancock County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$740 ±$145
Median income of renter households	$37,383 ±$13,358
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.2% ±8.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	24.0% ±7.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	683

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$656	$740	+12.8%
Median renter household income	$36,875	$37,383	+1.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	40.5%	36.2%	−4.3 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.

HUD income limits for Hancock County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $80,400 (FY2025: $85,100, −5.5%). 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%)	$17,000 −5.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$53,400 −1.4%
Very low income (50%)	$28,350 −4.9%	$32,400 −4.8%	$36,450 −4.8%	$40,450 −4.9%	$43,700 −5.0%	$46,950 −5.0%	$50,200 −4.9%	$53,400 −5.0%
Low income (80%)	$45,350 −4.9%	$51,800 −5.0%	$58,250 −5.0%	$64,700 −5.0%	$69,900 −5.0%	$75,100 −4.9%	$80,250 −5.0%	$85,450 −4.9%

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.