Harlan County, KY at a glance
Median household income
$41,693$3,474 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Harlan County, KY?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Harlan County, KY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Harlan County, KY, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $694 | $8,328 | $27,760 | 20% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $699 | $8,388 | $27,960 | 20.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $866 | $10,392 | $34,640 | 24.9% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,142 | $13,704 | $45,680 | 32.9% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,147 | $13,764 | $45,880 | 33% |
What a typical income covers in Harlan County, KY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $41,693 a year ($3,474 a month before tax).
What $41,693 leaves after Kentucky taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Kentucky tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Kentucky
Living in Harlan County, KY: common questions
What is the median household income in Harlan County, KY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Harlan County, KY is $41,693 per year (approximately $3,474 per month).
What is the average rent in Harlan County, KY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $694 for a studio, $699 for one bedroom, $866 for two, $1,142 for three and $1,147 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Harlan County, KY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 9.8% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Kentucky is 90.2, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Harlan County, KY?
To keep a $866 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $34,640 a year, or $2,887 a month. That is 83% of what the typical household in Harlan County, KY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Harlan County, KY?
On the local median income of $41,693 ($3,474 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $1,737 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,042 for everything else and $695 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $866 takes 50% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Harlan County, KY?
Homes in Kentucky paid 14.3¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $128. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.