Lawrence 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).

$9712-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7991-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$69,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lawrence County is $971 a month, up 4.9% from $926 in FY2026. Lawrence County belongs to the Lawrence 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 Lawrence County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$794	$715	+11.0%	$715 – $873
1 bedroom	$799	$720	+11.0%	$720 – $878
2 bedrooms	$971	$926	+4.9%	$874 – $1,068
3 bedrooms	$1,157	$1,110	+4.2%	$1,042 – $1,272
4 bedrooms	$1,372	$1,341	+2.3%	$1,235 – $1,509

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 Lawrence County that is typically $874 to $1,068 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?

$28,523median income of renter households

$760Median gross rent, all units

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

46%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $28,523 can afford about $713 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $971 is $258 (36.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $38,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $34,956 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lawrence County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$760 ±$38
Median income of renter households	$28,523 ±$3,984
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	45.5% ±8.6
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.7% ±6.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,006

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$568	$760	+33.8%
Median renter household income	$14,415	$28,523	+97.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	54.7%	45.5%	−9.2 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 $1,020 depending on the ZIP code.

All 13 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
41124	$830	$840	$1,020	$1,220	$1,440
41129	$850	$860	$1,000	$1,280	$1,390
41132	$830	$840	$1,000	$1,290	$1,410
41159	$740	$790	$970	$1,260	$1,440
41160	$790	$800	$970	$1,160	$1,370
41180	$730	$750	$910	$1,120	$1,280
41181	$780	$790	$960	$1,260	$1,360
41201	$790	$800	$970	$1,170	$1,370
41230	$790	$800	$970	$1,160	$1,370
41232	$750	$810	$960	$1,190	$1,370
41254	$650	$790	$910	$1,190	$1,310
41262	$730	$800	$970	$1,210	$1,370
41264	$790	$800	$970	$1,160	$1,370

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

HUD income limits for Lawrence County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $69,100 (FY2025: $68,900, +0.3%). 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.