Kentucky · FIPS 21091 · HUD FY 2027
Hancock County, Kentucky Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Hancock County is $962 a month (rent plus utilities), 17% below the Kentucky average of $1,155 and 45% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is down $54 (5.3%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $38,480 a year to afford it.
- $9622-bedroom FMR−$54 (−5.3%) vs FY 2026
- $7841-bedroom FMRKentucky: $946 · U.S.: $1,478
- $38,480Income for a 2-bedroom$18/hour full-time
- 54 of 1202BR rank in Kentucky1 = highest rent
| Unit | Hancock County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $693 | $769 | −$76 (−9.9%) | $854 | $1,379 | $27,720 |
| 1 bedroom | $784 | $774 | +$10 (+1.3%) | $946 | $1,478 | $31,360 |
| 2 bedrooms | $962 | $1,016 | −$54 (−5.3%) | $1,155 | $1,761 | $38,480 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,276 | $1,345 | −$69 (−5.1%) | $1,500 | $2,266 | $51,040 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,344 | $1,347 | −$3 (−0.2%) | $1,708 | $2,607 | $53,760 |
How Hancock County compares
- Hancock County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Kentucky, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $909 (Wolfe County) to $1,442 (Boone County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $693, $784, $962, $1,276, $1,344. 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 3 ZIP codes mostly in Hancock County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $950 to $1,000.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Hancock County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42348 | $760 | $770 | $1,000 | $1,320 | $1,330 | −$20 (−2.0%) | 4% above |
| 42351 | $760 | $790 | $1,000 | $1,320 | $1,350 | −$20 (−2.0%) | 4% above |
| 42368 | $700 | $740 | $950 | $1,240 | $1,360 | −$70 (−6.9%) | 1% below |
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.