KY · Housing Choice Voucher
Kentucky Section 8 rent calculator
28,246 Kentucky households rented with a tenant-based voucher at the end of 2025; Louisville Metro Housing Authority ran 10,304. The average household paid $371 a month toward rent and utilities.
How much Section 8 can pay by bedroom size in Kentucky
Your voucher pays the lower of the gross rent and your agency’s payment standard, minus your total tenant payment; the standard is the one for the smaller of your voucher size and the unit’s bedrooms. Standards are normally set at 90% to 110% of HUD’s published fair market rent for the area. Kentucky’s FY2027 two-bedroom fair market rent runs from $909 in Adair County, KY and 54 other areas to $1,442 in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN ; three bedrooms, $1,083 in Caldwell County, KY and 6 other areas to $1,948 in Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA.
| Unit | Lowest area | Highest area |
|---|---|---|
| Studio | $633 Bell County, KY | $1,061 Clarksville, TN-KY |
| 1 bedroom | $695 Bath County, KY and 18 other areas | $1,205 Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA |
| 2 bedrooms | $909 Adair County, KY and 54 other areas | $1,442 Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,083 Caldwell County, KY and 6 other areas | $1,948 Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,195 Butler County, KY and 6 other areas | $2,185 Clarksville, TN-KY |
An agency with an approved exception standard can pay above 110%. Ask yours for its actual figure (Kentucky agencies), then enter it below. Rules: 24 CFR 982.503(c), 982.505(c); rents: HUD FY2027 workbook.
Work out a Kentucky voucher rent split
Monthly rent split
Enter your figures to see who pays what.
- You pay the owner
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- plus Voucher pays the owner
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- equals Owner receives
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- Your total share with utilities
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- Total tenant payment
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- Total assistance
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- Utility reimbursement
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- Gross rent
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- Above the payment standard
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Who runs vouchers in Kentucky
Louisville Metro Housing Authority is the largest voucher agency in Kentucky, ahead of Kentucky Housing Corporation-State Agency (3,396 households) and 34 smaller agencies.
Louisville Metro Housing Authority and Housing Authority of Lexington are Moving to Work agencies and can set their own rent rules; check their rent policy against this estimate.
Waits before admission averaged 2 months at Pineville/Bell County Community Dev Agency and 47 at Ashland Planning and CDA.
Average family payments ran from $268 at Housing Authority of Greensburg to $551 at Boone County Fiscal Court.
- Households
- 28,246
- Avg. family payment
- $371
- Avg. yearly income
- $14,582
- Avg. wait
- 14 months
- 2-bed / 3+ bed units
- 40% / 34%
| Agency | Households | Avg. family payment | Avg. wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville Metro Housing Authority MTWKY001 | 10,304 | $324 | 13 mo |
| Kentucky Housing Corporation-State Agency KY901 | 3,396 | $369 | 21 mo |
| Housing Authority of Lexington MTWKY004 | 2,804 | $529 | 47 mo |
| Cumberland Valley Regional Housing Authority KY160 | 1,364 | $309 | 4 mo |
| Boone County Fiscal Court KY135 | 830 | $551 | 7 mo |
| City of Richmond Section 8 Housing Program KY132 | 656 | $393 | 14 mo |
| City of Bowling Green Housing Division KY171 | 655 | $374 | 12 mo |
| Appalachian Foothills Housing Agency Inc KY161 | 617 | $337 | 23 mo |
| Campbell County Department of Housing KY136 | 603 | $472 | 16 mo |
| Housing Authority of Hopkinsville KY011 | 524 | $366 | 38 mo |
| Housing Authority of Henderson KY012 | 487 | $386 | 12 mo |
| Housing Authority of Frankfort KY003 | 453 | $465 | 18 mo |
Source: HUD Picture of Subsidized Households 2025; field notes.
FY2027 rent references for Kentucky
HUD’s county workbook contains 120 location rows across 101 FMR areas in Kentucky. The two-bedroom references range from $909 in Adair County (Adair County, KY) to $1,442 in Pendleton County (Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area). These are area references including utilities, not a statewide voucher amount.
Kentucky metropolitan HUD areas
| HUD area | Rows | Studio | 1 bed | 2 beds | 3 beds | 4 beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | 6 | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | 6 | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
| Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 2 | $1,061 | $1,068 | $1,307 | $1,786 | $2,185 |
| Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | 5 | $976 | $1,058 | $1,276 | $1,629 | $1,874 |
| Livingston County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $850 | $937 | $1,220 | $1,454 | $1,723 |
| Bowling Green, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 2 | $920 | $1,020 | $1,199 | $1,438 | $1,959 |
| Ballard County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $822 | $902 | $1,180 | $1,406 | $1,551 |
| Shelby County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $873 | $998 | $1,149 | $1,369 | $1,692 |
| Grant County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $840 | $899 | $1,146 | $1,365 | $1,692 |
| Owensboro, KY MSA | 2 | $864 | $870 | $1,138 | $1,507 | $1,516 |
| McCracken County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $788 | $924 | $1,131 | $1,348 | $1,616 |
| Elizabethtown, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 2 | $860 | $866 | $1,087 | $1,505 | $1,817 |
| Meade County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $799 | $804 | $1,052 | $1,443 | $1,549 |
| Nelson County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $777 | $781 | $1,022 | $1,302 | $1,587 |
| Allen County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $774 | $779 | $1,019 | $1,293 | $1,624 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area | 2 | $858 | $864 | $1,006 | $1,287 | $1,393 |
| Lawrence County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $794 | $799 | $971 | $1,157 | $1,372 |
| Carlisle County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $649 | $798 | $932 | $1,272 | $1,316 |
| Butler County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $690 | $695 | $909 | $1,190 | $1,195 |
| Carter County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | 1 | $745 | $749 | $909 | $1,246 | $1,285 |
The other 81 Kentucky rows use 81 nonmetropolitan references, with two-bedroom amounts from $909 to $1,175; $909 applies to 53 of them.
120 location rows
| Location / HUD area | Studio | 1 bed | 2 beds | 3 beds | 4 beds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adair County Adair County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,310 |
| Allen County Allen County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $774 | $779 | $1,019 | $1,293 | $1,624 |
| Anderson County Anderson County, KY | $801 | $1,020 | $1,121 | $1,377 | $1,566 |
| Ballard County Ballard County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $822 | $902 | $1,180 | $1,406 | $1,551 |
| Barren County Barren County, KY | $696 | $700 | $916 | $1,171 | $1,331 |
| Bath County Bath County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,124 | $1,320 |
| Bell County Bell County, KY | $633 | $787 | $909 | $1,133 | $1,352 |
| Boone County Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Bourbon County Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
| Boyd County Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area | $858 | $864 | $1,006 | $1,287 | $1,393 |
| Boyle County Boyle County, KY | $720 | $725 | $925 | $1,183 | $1,216 |
| Bracken County Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Breathitt County Breathitt County, KY | $650 | $703 | $909 | $1,242 | $1,270 |
| Breckinridge County Breckinridge County, KY | $695 | $720 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,329 |
| Bullitt County Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $976 | $1,058 | $1,276 | $1,629 | $1,874 |
| Butler County Butler County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $690 | $695 | $909 | $1,190 | $1,195 |
| Caldwell County Caldwell County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,270 |
| Calloway County Calloway County, KY | $848 | $883 | $1,155 | $1,376 | $1,518 |
| Campbell County Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Carlisle County Carlisle County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $649 | $798 | $932 | $1,272 | $1,316 |
| Carroll County Carroll County, KY | $766 | $819 | $1,072 | $1,277 | $1,409 |
| Carter County Carter County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $745 | $749 | $909 | $1,246 | $1,285 |
| Casey County Casey County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,195 |
| Christian County Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,061 | $1,068 | $1,307 | $1,786 | $2,185 |
| Clark County Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
| Clay County Clay County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,254 | $1,270 |
| Clinton County Clinton County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,270 |
| Crittenden County Crittenden County, KY | $650 | $759 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,270 |
| Cumberland County Cumberland County, KY | $650 | $819 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,270 |
| Daviess County Owensboro, KY MSA | $864 | $870 | $1,138 | $1,507 | $1,516 |
| Edmonson County Bowling Green, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $920 | $1,020 | $1,199 | $1,438 | $1,959 |
| Elliott County Elliott County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,270 |
| Estill County Estill County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,150 | $1,383 |
| Fayette County Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
| Fleming County Fleming County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,130 | $1,195 |
| Floyd County Floyd County, KY | $661 | $707 | $925 | $1,230 | $1,246 |
| Franklin County Franklin County, KY | $797 | $909 | $1,145 | $1,466 | $1,811 |
| Fulton County Fulton County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,308 |
| Gallatin County Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Garrard County Garrard County, KY | $672 | $864 | $941 | $1,232 | $1,237 |
| Grant County Grant County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $840 | $899 | $1,146 | $1,365 | $1,692 |
| Graves County Graves County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,219 | $1,270 |
| Grayson County Grayson County, KY | $650 | $779 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,270 |
| Green County Green County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,190 | $1,195 |
| Greenup County Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH HUD Metro FMR Area | $858 | $864 | $1,006 | $1,287 | $1,393 |
| Hancock County Hancock County, KY | $693 | $784 | $962 | $1,276 | $1,344 |
| Hardin County Elizabethtown, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $860 | $866 | $1,087 | $1,505 | $1,817 |
| Harlan County Harlan County, KY | $691 | $749 | $909 | $1,190 | $1,195 |
| Harrison County Harrison County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,389 |
| Hart County Hart County, KY | $650 | $796 | $909 | $1,127 | $1,262 |
| Henderson County Henderson County, KY | $787 | $792 | $909 | $1,222 | $1,366 |
| Henry County Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $976 | $1,058 | $1,276 | $1,629 | $1,874 |
| Hickman County Hickman County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,190 | $1,195 |
| Hopkins County Hopkins County, KY | $701 | $733 | $959 | $1,249 | $1,405 |
| Jackson County Jackson County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,190 | $1,195 |
| Jefferson County Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $976 | $1,058 | $1,276 | $1,629 | $1,874 |
| Jessamine County Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
| Johnson County Johnson County, KY | $650 | $788 | $909 | $1,186 | $1,308 |
| Kenton County Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Knott County Knott County, KY | $702 | $784 | $983 | $1,171 | $1,374 |
| Knox County Knox County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,179 | $1,519 |
| Larue County Elizabethtown, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $860 | $866 | $1,087 | $1,505 | $1,817 |
| Laurel County Laurel County, KY | $674 | $749 | $943 | $1,124 | $1,315 |
| Lawrence County Lawrence County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $794 | $799 | $971 | $1,157 | $1,372 |
| Lee County Lee County, KY | $712 | $794 | $996 | $1,187 | $1,392 |
| Leslie County Leslie County, KY | $650 | $774 | $909 | $1,183 | $1,270 |
| Letcher County Letcher County, KY | $650 | $751 | $909 | $1,094 | $1,328 |
| Lewis County Lewis County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,156 | $1,270 |
| Lincoln County Lincoln County, KY | $650 | $793 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,331 |
| Livingston County Livingston County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $850 | $937 | $1,220 | $1,454 | $1,723 |
| Logan County Logan County, KY | $652 | $698 | $913 | $1,180 | $1,276 |
| Lyon County Lyon County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,308 |
| Madison County Madison County, KY | $691 | $859 | $993 | $1,375 | $1,600 |
| Magoffin County Magoffin County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,270 |
| Marion County Marion County, KY | $650 | $736 | $909 | $1,139 | $1,482 |
| Marshall County Marshall County, KY | $656 | $824 | $918 | $1,266 | $1,283 |
| Martin County Martin County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,133 | $1,270 |
| Mason County Mason County, KY | $715 | $797 | $1,001 | $1,196 | $1,477 |
| McCracken County McCracken County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $788 | $924 | $1,131 | $1,348 | $1,616 |
| McCreary County McCreary County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,147 | $1,270 |
| McLean County Owensboro, KY MSA | $864 | $870 | $1,138 | $1,507 | $1,516 |
| Meade County Meade County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $799 | $804 | $1,052 | $1,443 | $1,549 |
| Menifee County Menifee County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,162 | $1,270 |
| Mercer County Mercer County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,519 |
| Metcalfe County Metcalfe County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,191 | $1,270 |
| Monroe County Monroe County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,314 |
| Montgomery County Montgomery County, KY | $717 | $767 | $1,004 | $1,314 | $1,320 |
| Morgan County Morgan County, KY | $650 | $739 | $909 | $1,256 | $1,503 |
| Muhlenberg County Muhlenberg County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,083 | $1,220 |
| Nelson County Nelson County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $777 | $781 | $1,022 | $1,302 | $1,587 |
| Nicholas County Nicholas County, KY | $650 | $819 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,270 |
| Ohio County Ohio County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,178 | $1,415 |
| Oldham County Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $976 | $1,058 | $1,276 | $1,629 | $1,874 |
| Owen County Owen County, KY | $730 | $781 | $1,022 | $1,396 | $1,428 |
| Owsley County Owsley County, KY | $650 | $725 | $909 | $1,099 | $1,270 |
| Pendleton County Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,052 | $1,128 | $1,442 | $1,897 | $2,141 |
| Perry County Perry County, KY | $722 | $772 | $1,010 | $1,203 | $1,327 |
| Pike County Pike County, KY | $763 | $837 | $1,095 | $1,305 | $1,812 |
| Powell County Powell County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,519 |
| Pulaski County Pulaski County, KY | $660 | $706 | $924 | $1,101 | $1,308 |
| Robertson County Robertson County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,133 | $1,270 |
| Rockcastle County Rockcastle County, KY | $650 | $810 | $909 | $1,174 | $1,270 |
| Rowan County Rowan County, KY | $701 | $791 | $977 | $1,252 | $1,633 |
| Russell County Russell County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,115 | $1,311 |
| Scott County Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
| Shelby County Shelby County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $873 | $998 | $1,149 | $1,369 | $1,692 |
| Simpson County Simpson County, KY | $802 | $984 | $1,122 | $1,491 | $1,568 |
| Spencer County Louisville, KY-IN HUD Metro FMR Area | $976 | $1,058 | $1,276 | $1,629 | $1,874 |
| Taylor County Taylor County, KY | $650 | $835 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,270 |
| Todd County Todd County, KY | $753 | $806 | $1,054 | $1,256 | $1,466 |
| Trigg County Clarksville, TN-KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $1,061 | $1,068 | $1,307 | $1,786 | $2,185 |
| Trimble County Trimble County, KY | $840 | $898 | $1,175 | $1,407 | $1,642 |
| Union County Union County, KY | $716 | $742 | $971 | $1,157 | $1,320 |
| Warren County Bowling Green, KY HUD Metro FMR Area | $920 | $1,020 | $1,199 | $1,438 | $1,959 |
| Washington County Washington County, KY | $671 | $718 | $939 | $1,300 | $1,343 |
| Wayne County Wayne County, KY | $650 | $834 | $909 | $1,259 | $1,519 |
| Webster County Webster County, KY | $650 | $695 | $909 | $1,241 | $1,270 |
| Whitley County Whitley County, KY | $690 | $695 | $909 | $1,129 | $1,298 |
| Wolfe County Wolfe County, KY | $650 | $774 | $909 | $1,133 | $1,270 |
| Woodford County Lexington-Fayette, KY MSA | $986 | $1,205 | $1,416 | $1,948 | $2,108 |
Source: HUD FY2027 county and town workbook, effective October 1, 2026 (notice); scope and dates. Section 8 fair market rents by ZIP code.
Kentucky housing agency directory
The HUD Kentucky contact report lists 119 agencies; these 40 run Section 8 or combined programs.
- Ashland Planning and CDAKY142 · Section 8
- Cumberland Valley Regional Housing AuthorityKY160 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of BardstownKY071 · Combined
- City of Bowling Green Housing DivisionKY171 · Section 8
- Boone County Fiscal CourtKY135 · Section 8
- Campbellsville Housing and Redevelopment Authority 400 Ingram AvenueKY047 · Combined
- Covington CDAKY133 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of CynthianaKY021 · Combined
- Danville Community Development AgencyKY138 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of FrankfortKY003 · Combined
- Kentucky Housing Corporation-State AgencyKY901 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of GeorgetownKY061 · Combined
- Housing Authority of GlasgowKY026 · Combined
- Housing Authority of GreensburgKY053 · Combined
- Housing Authority of HendersonKY012 · Combined
- Housing Authority of HopkinsvilleKY011 · Combined
- Lake Cumberland Housing Agency IncKY163 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of Floyd CountyKY157 · Combined
- Housing Authority of LebanonKY022 · Combined
- Housing Authority of LexingtonKY004 · Combined
- Laurel County Section 8 HousingKY169 · Section 8
- HA of Lawrence CountyKY086 · Combined
- Louisville Metro Housing AuthorityKY001 · Combined
- Housing Authority of MadisonvilleKY007 · Combined
- Housing Authority of MayfieldKY040 · Combined
- Housing Authority of MaysvilleKY017 · Combined
- Housing Authority of NewportKY015 · Combined
- Campbell County Department of HousingKY136 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of OwensboroKY009 · Combined
- City of Paducah Section 8 Housing ProgramKY137 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of PaintsvilleKY027 · Combined
- Paris-Bourbon County Community Dev. AgencyKY140 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of PikevilleKY107 · Combined
- Pike County Housing AuthorityKY121 · Section 8
- Pineville/Bell County Community Dev AgencyKY141 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of PrestonsburgKY035 · Combined
- City of Richmond Section 8 Housing ProgramKY132 · Section 8
- Housing Authority of SomersetKY008 · Combined
- Housing Authority of SpringfieldKY056 · Combined
- Appalachian Foothills Housing Agency IncKY161 · Section 8
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Published · Reviewed · Editorial Team