Hardin 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).

$1,0872-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8661-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$70,55080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$92,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hardin County is $1,087 a month, up 2.9% from $1,056 in FY2026. Hardin County belongs to the Elizabethtown, 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 Hardin County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$860	$841	+2.3%	$774 – $946
1 bedroom	$866	$846	+2.4%	$780 – $952
2 bedrooms	$1,087	$1,056	+2.9%	$979 – $1,195
3 bedrooms	$1,505	$1,469	+2.5%	$1,355 – $1,655
4 bedrooms	$1,817	$1,771	+2.6%	$1,636 – $1,998

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 Hardin County that is typically $979 to $1,195 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?

$50,353median income of renter households

$971Median gross rent, all units

23%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

37%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $50,353 can afford about $1,259 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,087 is $172 (13.6%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $43,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $39,132 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hardin County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$971 ±$27
Median income of renter households	$50,353 ±$2,096
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.6% ±3.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	18.0% ±2.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	15,752

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$827	$971	+17.4%
Median renter household income	$40,473	$50,353	+24.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	37.9%	36.6%	−1.3 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 $960 to $1,360 depending on the ZIP code.

All 27 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
40051	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
40052	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
40060	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
40115	$880	$890	$1,140	$1,570	$1,780
40121	$970	$980	$1,240	$1,710	$2,010
40122	$870	$880	$1,100	$1,520	$1,840
40140	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
40150	$780	$840	$1,010	$1,310	$1,510
40159	$870	$880	$1,100	$1,520	$1,840
40160	$810	$810	$1,020	$1,410	$1,700
40162	$940	$940	$1,200	$1,650	$1,960
40175	$1,050	$1,060	$1,360	$1,870	$2,140
40177	$790	$820	$1,010	$1,380	$1,640
42701	$930	$930	$1,170	$1,620	$1,960
42702	$870	$880	$1,100	$1,520	$1,840
42712	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
42716	$860	$870	$1,090	$1,500	$1,800
42718	$760	$830	$960	$1,330	$1,600
42724	$840	$840	$1,060	$1,470	$1,770
42732	$760	$790	$980	$1,360	$1,600
42740	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
42748	$780	$790	$990	$1,370	$1,650
42757	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
42764	$760	$810	$990	$1,330	$1,600
42776	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600
42784	$760	$800	$970	$1,330	$1,600
42788	$760	$770	$960	$1,330	$1,600

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

HUD income limits for Hardin County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $92,100 (FY2025: $80,200, +14.8%). 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%)	$18,550 +10.1%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +5.2%
Very low income (50%)	$30,900 +10.0%	$35,300 +10.0%	$39,700 +10.0%	$44,100 +10.0%	$47,650 +9.9%	$51,200 +10.0%	$54,700 +9.9%	$58,200 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$49,400 +9.9%	$56,450 +9.9%	$63,500 +10.0%	$70,550 +10.0%	$76,200 +10.0%	$81,850 +9.9%	$87,500 +10.0%	$93,150 +10.0%

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.