Powell 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).

$9092-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$6951-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$58,40080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$62,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Powell County is $909 a month, up 5.0% from $866 in FY2026. Powell County belongs to the Powell 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 Powell County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$650	$619	+5.0%	$585 – $715
1 bedroom	$695	$660	+5.3%	$626 – $764
2 bedrooms	$909	$866	+5.0%	$819 – $999
3 bedrooms	$1,259	$1,204	+4.6%	$1,134 – $1,384
4 bedrooms	$1,519	$1,453	+4.5%	$1,368 – $1,670

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 Powell County that is typically $819 to $999 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?

$20,518median income of renter households

$747Median gross rent, all units

44%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

64%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $20,518 can afford about $513 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $909 is $396 (77.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $36,360 a year under the 30% rule, or $32,724 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Powell County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$747 ±$74
Median income of renter households	$20,518 ±$4,328
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	63.7% ±9.5
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	35.3% ±10.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	1,251

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$669	$747	+11.7%
Median renter household income	$19,230	$20,518	+6.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	48.3%	63.7%	+15.4 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.

HUD income limits for Powell County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $62,300 (FY2025: $76,800, −18.9%). 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 −1.2%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$42,350 −1.9%	$45,300 −4.9%	$48,200 −4.9%
Very low income (50%)	$25,600 −4.8%	$29,250 −4.9%	$32,900 −4.9%	$36,500 −4.9%	$39,450 −4.9%	$42,350 −4.9%	$45,300 −4.9%	$48,200 −4.9%
Low income (80%)	$40,900 −5.0%	$46,750 −5.0%	$52,600 −5.0%	$58,400 −5.0%	$63,100 −5.0%	$67,750 −5.0%	$72,450 −4.9%	$77,100 −5.0%

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.