McCracken 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).

$1,1312-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9241-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$79,35080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$102,400Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in McCracken County is $1,131 a month, up 6.9% from $1,058 in FY2026. McCracken County belongs to the McCracken 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 McCracken County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$788	$729	+8.1%	$710 – $866
1 bedroom	$924	$851	+8.6%	$832 – $1,016
2 bedrooms	$1,131	$1,058	+6.9%	$1,018 – $1,244
3 bedrooms	$1,348	$1,269	+6.2%	$1,214 – $1,482
4 bedrooms	$1,616	$1,775	−9.0%	$1,455 – $1,777

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 McCracken County that is typically $1,018 to $1,244 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?

$35,433median income of renter households

$898Median gross rent, all units

30%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

44%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $35,433 can afford about $886 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,131 is $245 (27.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $45,240 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,716 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

McCracken County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$898 ±$40
Median income of renter households	$35,433 ±$4,315
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	43.6% ±5.7
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.1% ±4.7
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	8,155

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$717	$898	+25.2%
Median renter household income	$27,969	$35,433	+26.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.4%	43.6%	−0.8 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 $1,250 depending on the ZIP code.

All 9 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
42001	$850	$1,000	$1,220	$1,450	$1,740
42002	$790	$920	$1,130	$1,350	$1,610
42003	$660	$770	$960	$1,150	$1,600
42027	$740	$830	$1,050	$1,330	$1,600
42029	$720	$910	$1,010	$1,390	$1,600
42053	$830	$940	$1,190	$1,420	$1,630
42069	$690	$770	$960	$1,240	$1,600
42082	$690	$820	$970	$1,260	$1,600
42086	$870	$1,020	$1,250	$1,490	$1,790

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

HUD income limits for McCracken County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $102,400 (FY2025: $90,200, +13.5%). 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%)	$20,850 +10.0%	$23,800 +9.9%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$34,750 +10.0%	$39,700 +10.0%	$44,650 +10.0%	$49,600 +10.0%	$53,600 +9.9%	$57,550 +9.9%	$61,500 +9.9%	$65,500 +10.0%
Low income (80%)	$55,550 +9.9%	$63,500 +10.0%	$71,400 +9.9%	$79,350 +10.0%	$85,700 +9.9%	$92,050 +10.0%	$98,400 +9.9%	$104,750 +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.