Mercer County, KY at a glance
Median household income
$64,824$5,402 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Mercer 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 Mercer County, KY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Mercer 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 | $619 | $7,428 | $24,760 | 11.5% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $660 | $7,920 | $26,400 | 12.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $866 | $10,392 | $34,640 | 16% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,204 | $14,448 | $48,160 | 22.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,453 | $17,436 | $58,120 | 26.9% |
What a typical income covers in Mercer County, KY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $64,824 a year ($5,402 a month before tax).
What $64,824 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 Mercer County, KY: common questions
What is the median household income in Mercer County, KY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Mercer County, KY is $64,824 per year (approximately $5,402 per month).
What is the average rent in Mercer County, KY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $619 for a studio, $660 for one bedroom, $866 for two, $1,204 for three and $1,453 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 53% of what the typical household in Mercer County, KY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Mercer County, KY?
On the local median income of $64,824 ($5,402 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,701 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,621 for everything else and $1,080 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $866 takes 32% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Mercer 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.