Lee 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).

$9962-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$7941-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$56,000Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Lee County is $996 a month, up 6.1% from $939 in FY2026. Lee County belongs to the Lee 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 Lee County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$712	$671	+6.1%	$641 – $783
1 bedroom	$794	$740	+7.3%	$715 – $873
2 bedrooms	$996	$939	+6.1%	$897 – $1,095
3 bedrooms	$1,187	$1,126	+5.4%	$1,069 – $1,305
4 bedrooms	$1,392	$1,311	+6.2%	$1,253 – $1,531

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 Lee County that is typically $897 to $1,095 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?

$21,094median income of renter households

$603Median gross rent, all units

34%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

65%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $21,094 can afford about $527 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $996 is $469 (88.9%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $39,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $35,856 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Lee County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$603 ±$64
Median income of renter households	$21,094 ±$10,180
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	64.5% ±11.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	33.1% ±13.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	493

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$548	$603	+10.0%
Median renter household income	$13,004	$21,094	+62.2%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	60.8%	64.5%	+3.7 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 Lee County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $56,000 (FY2025: $45,900, +22.0%). 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.