Kentucky · FIPS 21031 · HUD FY 2027
Butler County, Kentucky Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Butler County is $909 a month (rent plus utilities), 21% below the Kentucky average of $1,155 and 48% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $43 (5.0%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $36,360 a year to afford it.
- $9092-bedroom FMR+$43 (+5.0%) vs FY 2026
- $6951-bedroom FMRKentucky: $946 · U.S.: $1,478
- $36,360Income for a 2-bedroom$17/hour full-time
- 66 of 1202BR rank in Kentucky1 = highest rent
| Unit | Butler County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $690 | $660 | +$30 (+4.5%) | $854 | $1,379 | $27,600 |
| 1 bedroom | $695 | $660 | +$35 (+5.3%) | $946 | $1,478 | $27,800 |
| 2 bedrooms | $909 | $866 | +$43 (+5.0%) | $1,155 | $1,761 | $36,360 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,190 | $1,204 | −$14 (−1.2%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $47,600 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,195 | $1,232 | −$37 (−3.0%) | $1,708 | $2,607 | $47,800 |
How Butler County compares
- HUD sets this rent for the Butler County, KY metro FMR area, which covers 12,393 residents in 1 county.
- Across Kentucky, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $909 (Wolfe County) to $1,442 (Boone County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $690, $695, $909, $1,190, $1,195. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 4 ZIP codes mostly in Butler County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $910 to $1,090.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Butler County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42252 | $690 | $700 | $910 | $1,190 | $1,200 | +$40 (+4.6%) | about the same as |
| 42261 | $690 | $700 | $910 | $1,190 | $1,200 | +$40 (+4.6%) | about the same as |
| 42273 | $830 | $830 | $1,090 | $1,430 | $1,430 | +$220 (+25.3%) | 20% above |
| 42275 | $810 | $890 | $1,040 | $1,250 | $1,630 | −$20 (−1.9%) | 14% above |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.