Hopkins 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).

$9592-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7331-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$59,70080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$74,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Hopkins County is $959 a month, up 6.6% from $900 in FY2026. Hopkins County belongs to the Hopkins 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 Hopkins County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$701	$662	+5.9%	$631 – $771
1 bedroom	$733	$686	+6.9%	$660 – $806
2 bedrooms	$959	$900	+6.6%	$864 – $1,054
3 bedrooms	$1,249	$1,163	+7.4%	$1,125 – $1,373
4 bedrooms	$1,405	$1,330	+5.6%	$1,265 – $1,545

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 Hopkins County that is typically $864 to $1,054 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?

$34,541median income of renter households

$837Median gross rent, all units

29%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 $34,541 can afford about $864 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $959 is $95 (11.1%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,524 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Hopkins County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$837 ±$52
Median income of renter households	$34,541 ±$5,563
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	48.9% ±6.1
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	23.1% ±5.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	4,573

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$715	$837	+17.1%
Median renter household income	$29,650	$34,541	+16.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	38.2%	48.9%	+10.7 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 Hopkins County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $74,600 (FY2025: $75,100, −0.7%). 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%)	$15,960 +1.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$43,300 +0.3%	$46,300 −0.6%	$49,250 −0.7%
Very low income (50%)	$26,150 −0.6%	$29,850 −0.7%	$33,600 −0.6%	$37,300 −0.7%	$40,300 −0.7%	$43,300 −0.7%	$46,300 −0.6%	$49,250 −0.7%
Low income (80%)	$41,800 −0.7%	$47,800 −0.6%	$53,750 −0.6%	$59,700 −0.7%	$64,500 −0.7%	$69,300 −0.6%	$74,050 −0.7%	$78,850 −0.6%

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.