Shelby County, KY at a glance
Median household income
$82,604$6,884 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Shelby 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 Shelby County, KY? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Shelby County, KY HUD Metro FMR Area, 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 | $954 | $11,448 | $38,160 | 13.9% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,027 | $12,324 | $41,080 | 14.9% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,143 | $13,716 | $45,720 | 16.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,417 | $17,004 | $56,680 | 20.6% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,697 | $20,364 | $67,880 | 24.7% |
What a typical income covers in Shelby County, KY
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $82,604 a year ($6,884 a month before tax).
What $82,604 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 Shelby County, KY: common questions
What is the median household income in Shelby County, KY?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Shelby County, KY is $82,604 per year (approximately $6,884 per month).
What is the average rent in Shelby County, KY?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $954 for a studio, $1,027 for one bedroom, $1,143 for two, $1,417 for three and $1,697 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 Shelby County, KY expensive to live in?
Prices there run 6.9% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 93.1, 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 Shelby County, KY?
To keep a $1,143 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $45,720 a year, or $3,810 a month. That is 55% of what the typical household in Shelby County, KY earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Shelby County, KY?
On the local median income of $82,604 ($6,884 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,442 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $2,065 for everything else and $1,377 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,143 takes 33% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Shelby 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.