Livingston 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).

$1,2202-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9371-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$65,10080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$81,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Livingston County is $1,220 a month, up 5.4% from $1,158 in FY2026. Livingston County belongs to the Livingston 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 Livingston County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$850	$865	−1.7%	$765 – $935
1 bedroom	$937	$960	−2.4%	$844 – $1,030
2 bedrooms	$1,220	$1,158	+5.4%	$1,098 – $1,342
3 bedrooms	$1,454	$1,388	+4.8%	$1,309 – $1,599
4 bedrooms	$1,723	$1,771	−2.7%	$1,551 – $1,895

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 Livingston County that is typically $1,098 to $1,342 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?

$36,518median income of renter households

$926Median gross rent, all units

30%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 $36,518 can afford about $913 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,220 is $307 (33.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $48,800 a year under the 30% rule, or $43,920 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Livingston County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$926 ±$91
Median income of renter households	$36,518 ±$9,354
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	49.4% ±36.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.9% ±4.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	403

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$676	$926	+37.0%
Median renter household income	$28,984	$36,518	+26.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	38.0%	49.4%	+11.4 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 $1,050 to $1,510 depending on the ZIP code.

All 8 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
42028	$780	$870	$1,050	$1,250	$1,600
42045	$790	$880	$1,140	$1,360	$1,610
42047	$810	$900	$1,160	$1,390	$1,650
42058	$1,060	$1,170	$1,510	$1,800	$2,160
42064	$780	$870	$1,050	$1,250	$1,600
42078	$780	$870	$1,050	$1,250	$1,600
42081	$870	$960	$1,250	$1,490	$1,770
42083	$780	$870	$1,110	$1,340	$1,600

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

HUD income limits for Livingston County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $81,400 (FY2025: $79,700, +2.1%). 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%)	$17,100 +4.0%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +3.1%	$53,750 +4.0%
Very low income (50%)	$28,500 +4.0%	$32,600 +4.2%	$36,650 +4.0%	$40,700 +4.0%	$44,000 +4.0%	$47,250 +4.1%	$50,500 +4.0%	$53,750 +4.0%
Low income (80%)	$45,600 +4.0%	$52,100 +4.0%	$58,600 +4.0%	$65,100 +4.0%	$70,350 +4.0%	$75,550 +4.0%	$80,750 +4.0%	$85,950 +4.0%

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.