Simpson 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).

$1,1222-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9841-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$62,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$78,500Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Simpson County is $1,122 a month, up 6.4% from $1,055 in FY2026. Simpson County belongs to the Simpson 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 Simpson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$802	$754	+6.4%	$722 – $882
1 bedroom	$984	$872	+12.8%	$886 – $1,082
2 bedrooms	$1,122	$1,055	+6.4%	$1,010 – $1,234
3 bedrooms	$1,491	$1,405	+6.1%	$1,342 – $1,640
4 bedrooms	$1,568	$1,473	+6.4%	$1,412 – $1,724

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 Simpson County that is typically $1,010 to $1,234 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?

$33,333median income of renter households

$1,012Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

45%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,333 can afford about $833 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,122 is $289 (34.6%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,880 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,392 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Simpson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$1,012 ±$69
Median income of renter households	$33,333 ±$15,533
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	44.5% ±8.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	25.3% ±6.5
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	2,359

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$804	$1,012	+25.9%
Median renter household income	$29,947	$33,333	+11.3%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	41.5%	44.5%	+3.0 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 Simpson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $78,500 (FY2025: $77,600, +1.2%). 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%)	$16,500 +0.9%	$21,640 +2.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$48,700 +1.1%	$51,850 +1.2%
Very low income (50%)	$27,500 +1.1%	$31,400 +1.1%	$35,350 +1.1%	$39,250 +1.2%	$42,400 +1.1%	$45,550 +1.1%	$48,700 +1.1%	$51,850 +1.2%
Low income (80%)	$44,000 +1.1%	$50,250 +1.1%	$56,550 +1.2%	$62,800 +1.1%	$67,850 +1.1%	$72,850 +1.1%	$77,900 +1.1%	$82,900 +1.1%

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.