Español

Este sitio también está en español. Leer en español

Renting · Section 8

Data from November 2026

Renting in Union County, Kentucky

Union County has a HUD fair market rent of $971 a month for 2 bedrooms (Fiscal year 2027). Renter households here pay a typical rent of $790 a month (Average 2020–2024). Paying the fair market rent without going over 30% of income takes $18.67 an hour, full time.

Figure your move-in cash Section 8 here
WhatsApp
Fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$971
a month, HUD, Fiscal year 2027
16% less than in Kentucky
Typical rent
$790
a month, Census, Average 2020–2024
18% less than in Kentucky
Wage needed
$18.67
an hour, 2 bedrooms
Or $38,840 a year, to spend no more than 30% of income on rent.
Rent-burdened households
34%
spend 30% or more of income on rent
26% less than in Kentucky

Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates

Only here

Renting in Union County: what sets it apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Union County has the 10th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 112 counties in Kentucky with this figure (34%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

Fair market rent

What HUD sets for each size

Every year HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) publishes a Fair Market Rent (FMR) for each home size in Union County. It is used to work out how much a Section 8 voucher covers. The table shows what you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income.

The fair market rent covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone. HUD generally sets it at the 40th percentile: 4 in 10 standard-quality homes rented recently cost less. 24 CFR §888.113(a)

Fair market rent and wage needed To pay the fair market rent without spending more than 30% of income, working full time (40 hours a week).
Size Fair rent per month Hourly wage Income needed per year
Studio $716 $13.77 $28,640
1 bedroom $742 $14.27 $29,680
2 bedrooms $971 $18.67 $38,840
3 bedrooms $1,157 $22.25 $46,280
4 bedrooms $1,320 $25.38 $52,800

HUD area: Union County, KY. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

The fair market rent for your ZIP code

HUD also publishes fair market rents by ZIP code (Small Area FMRs) for 8 ZIP codes in Union County (Fiscal year 2027). Type yours to see it.

For 2 bedrooms they run from $910 in 42459 to $1,060 in 42462. 4 ZIP codes are above the county's fair market rent ($971).

Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses. 24 CFR §982.503(a)(1)

  • 42437 · Union County, KY $1,020$1,220
  • 42437 · Webster County, KY $1,020$1,220
  • 42459 · Crittenden County, KY $910$1,080
  • 42459 · Union County, KY $910$1,080
  • 42461 · Henderson County, KY $910$1,100
  • 42461 · Union County, KY $910$1,100
  • 42462 · Henderson County, KY $1,060$1,310
  • 42462 · Union County, KY $1,060$1,310

Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)

Rent burden

How many households spend too much

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Union County, 34% of renter households are in that position; in Kentucky, 45%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).

Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.

34%

of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.

1,547 households rent in Union County

  • Spend half or more of their income 17%
  • Spend 30% or more, but less than half 17%
  • Spend less than 30% 66%

Compared with the state and the country

  • Union 34%
  • Kentucky 45%
  • United States 51%

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Union County

HUD lists 4 properties with homes for low-income households in Union County: HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest.

HUD-assisted
2
public housing
2

181 homes in all; 176 of them low-income, according to HUD.

  • Morganfield Ha Public housing 738 Culver Ct, Morganfield 42437 49 homes, 45 low-income · Run by Housing Authority of Morganfield · Average payment: $408 a month · Average wait: 5 months · (270) 631-0733
  • Pleasant View Apts Public housing 7 S Holt Dr, Sturgis 42459 46 homes, 45 low-income · Run by Sturgis Housing Authority · Average payment: $432 a month · Average wait: 8 months · (270) 333-4231
  • Kelly Brook Apts HUD-assisted 221 S Holt Dr, Sturgis 42459 44 low-income homes · For older adults · (270) 333-4469
  • Northside Apartments HUD-assisted 43 Northside Ct, Morganfield 42437 42 low-income homes · For families · (270) 389-1057

Source: HUD, retrieved November 6, 2026. LIHTC database, updated May 14, 2025; Assisted multifamily properties, updated October 23, 2026; Public housing developments, updated October 23, 2026.

Section 8

The Section 8 voucher in Union County

The Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) pays part of your rent on a home you choose. Your public housing agency runs it. 2 agencies serve in Union County. Here is what the rules say:

The rules, with their source

  1. You apply at the public housing agency. If you qualify, your name usually goes on a waiting list. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or noncitizens with eligible status as HUD defines it. HUD

  2. Generally, your family must have very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income, by family size (the middle column of the table). 24 CFR §5.603, §982.201(b)

  3. Each year, at least 75% of the families an agency admits from its list must have extremely low income (the 30% column). 24 CFR §982.201(b)(2)

  4. If the rent is below the payment standard, the family generally pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. If it is above, the family pays more. 24 CFR §982.1(a)(3)

  5. When you move in, if the rent is above the payment standard, your share cannot go over 40% of your adjusted monthly income. 24 CFR §982.508

  6. Each agency sets a payment standard for each size. Without asking HUD, it can go from 90% to 110% of the fair market rent. 24 CFR §982.503(b), (c)

Mixed-status families: how assistance is figured
HUD income limits Yearly income of the whole family, before taxes.
People Extremely low (30%) Very low (50%) Low
$16,100 $26,850 $42,950
$21,640 $30,650 $49,050
$27,320 $34,500 $55,200
$33,000 $38,300 $61,300
$38,680 $41,400 $66,250
$44,360 $44,450 $71,150
$47,500 $47,500 $76,050
$50,600 $50,600 $80,950

Area median income: $76,600. HUD income limits by family size, Fiscal year 2026. Area: Union County, KY. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2026

How much can you earn? Check your case

Possible payment standard

  • Studio $644 – $788
  • 1 bedroom $668 – $816
  • 2 bedrooms $874 – $1,068
  • 3 bedrooms $1,041 – $1,273
  • 4 bedrooms $1,188 – $1,452

The range the rule allows: 90% to 110% of the county's fair market rent. Your agency publishes its own.

Housing agencies that serve this place

Housing agencies in Kentucky Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Your rights as a tenant in Kentucky

What Kentucky law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.

See your rights, rule by rule

Compare these rules with other states →

A summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.

If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
7 days
KRS 383.660(2)
  • Only a court order can remove youKRS 383.690
  • Protection from retaliationKRS 383.705(1)
  • Repair and deduct from the rentKRS 383.635(1)

Help

Where to get help with rent in Union County

These are the nearest HUD-approved agencies. They counsel for free or at low cost.

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    100 South Railroad Street, # 120, Madisonville · 34 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    117 West 2nd Street, Owensboro · 47 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740

  • Kentucky Legal Aid, Incorporated

    216 Berger Rd, Paducah · 56 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (270) 782-5740
See every agency in Kentucky Find legal aid (lsc.gov)

Tool

How much cash do you need to move in?

It starts with the 2-bedroom fair market rent in Union County. Change the rent, the deposit and the fees to yours: the numbers stay in your browser.

Count power on top of the rent: in Kentucky, the average home bill was $134 a month in 2024 (EIA). See electricity and gas costs

Open the full tool

Your move

We use the place's fair market rent and the state's deposit rule.

Adjust advanced details
Deposit and rent in advance
The deposit, in

Let's do the math

Cash to move in

$1,942

What you need before you get the keys.

What adds up

First month
$971
Security deposit
$971
Total
$1,942

The deposit cap

Pick your state to see whether its law caps the deposit.

Compare each state's rules →

When you'll have it

Enter what you can set aside each month to see how long it takes.

What helps

  • Ask for a receipt for every payment and keep a copy of the lease.
  • On move-in day, walk through the home and take dated photos.
  • Never send money for a home you haven't seen or a lease you haven't read.
Guide: the security depositGuide: avoiding rental scamsFamily budgetHow much rent can I afford?

This is a planning estimate, not a price. What you are asked for depends on the landlord, your lease and your state's and city's rules. It is not legal advice.

Guides

Before you sign

Frequently asked questions

What is the fair market rent in Union County?

According to HUD (Fiscal year 2027): Studio: $716; 1 bedroom: $742; 2 bedrooms: $971; 3 bedrooms: $1,157; 4 bedrooms: $1,320. It covers rent plus basic utilities, except the phone.

How much do you need to earn to rent in Union County?

Paying the 2-bedroom fair market rent ($971) without spending more than 30% of income takes $18.67 an hour full time, or $38,840 a year.

Who qualifies for Section 8 in Union County?

Generally, families with very low income: no more than 50% of the area median income. For 4 people, HUD's limit here is $38,300 a year (Fiscal year 2026). The family usually pays 30% of its adjusted monthly income. You apply at the housing agency.

How much does Section 8 pay in Union County?

The voucher pays up to your housing agency's payment standard, minus your share. The rule lets the agency set it between 90% and 110% of the fair market rent: for 2 bedrooms here, between $874 and $1,068 a month. Your agency publishes its figure.

Does the fair market rent change by ZIP code in Union County?

For 2 bedrooms they run from $910 in 42459 to $1,060 in 42462. Where HUD designates these areas, or where the housing agency chooses to use them, the voucher is figured on the ZIP code's rent instead of the county's. Ask your agency which one it uses.

How many low-income apartments are there in Union County?

HUD lists 4 properties with homes for low-income households in Union County: HUD-assisted buildings and public housing. They run from the most low-income homes to the fewest. For tax-credit apartments and HUD-assisted buildings, you apply directly at the building's management office. They tell you whether units are open and how to apply; HUD does not have that information.

How many households spend too much on rent in Union County?

HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Union County, 34% of renter households are in that position; in Kentucky, 45%, and nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).