RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · KY

Fort Thomas

Pop. 17,169·20th most expensive in Kentucky·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,386/mo
Year-over-Year
+3.0%
Month-over-Month
-1.1%
vs US Median
-$576
Falling (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Fort Thomas rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Fort Thomas · $1,386
More affordable than 83% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
16% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,386/mo, rent takes about 16% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$55,000/yr
Local median income
$104,350/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Fort Thomas's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$890
1 BR
$1,000
2 BR
$1,290
3 BR
$1,710
4 BR+
$1,890
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,290/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,386 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$16,632/yr
At $1,386/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Fort Thomas, KY is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 55.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
17,169
Median income
$104,350
Median age
38.8
Renters
28.8%
Age distribution
25.4%
18.6%
27%
17.1%
Under 1825.4%
18–3418.6%
35–5427%
55–6411.9%
65+17.1%
Gender
49.7%
50.3%
Male49.7%
Female50.3%
Race & ethnicity
89.2%
White89.2%
Black2.3%
Hispanic3%
Asian0.7%
Other4.8%
Education (25+)
16.6%
25.1%
55.3%
No HS diploma3%
HS diploma16.6%
Some college25.1%
Bachelor's+55.3%
Housing tenure
71.2%
28.8%
Owner71.2%
Renter28.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Fort Thomas, KY has changed in 5 years

Income
$85,938 → $104,350
up 21.4%
Population
17,241 → 17,169
down 0.4%
Renter share
26.5% → 28.8%
+2.3 pts
Bachelor's+
54.3% → 55.3%
+1.0 pts

On the earnings side, the typical household in Fort Thomas, KY now reports about $104,350, up from $85,938 in 2021. About 28.8% of households rent today, against 26.5% in 2021.

Community

Discussions about Fort Thomas

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Fort Thomas rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Fort Thomas on your salary?

At $1,386/mo, how Fort Thomas rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Fort Thomas rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Fort Thomas. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Fort Thomas

About renting in Fort Thomas, KY

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Fort Thomas is $1,386/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,290/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,710/mo.

At 16% of local median household income ($104,350/yr), Fort Thomas ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Fort Thomas an affordable city for renters?

Fort Thomas is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,386/mo, rent takes approximately 16% of the local median household income ($104,350/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Fort Thomas falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Fort Thomas?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $55,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,386/mo in Fort Thomas. The local median household income is $104,350/yr, meaning the typical Fort Thomas household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Fort Thomas?

Rent in Fort Thomas has increased 3.0% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Fort Thomas rent compare to other cities in Kentucky?

Fort Thomas is middle-of-the-pack for Kentucky for rent, ranking #20 out of 36 tracked cities at $1,386/mo.

What percentage of Fort Thomas residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.8% of Fort Thomas households are renters, while 71.2% are owner-occupied. Fort Thomas leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Fort Thomas rent compare to the national average?

Fort Thomas's median rent of $1,386/mo is $576 (29%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Kentucky, it ranks #20 out of 36 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
16%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,386/mo, rent takes ~16% of Fort Thomas's median household income ($104,350/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Fort Thomas 16%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4%
Run the Fort Thomas affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Fort Thomas
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Fort Thomas, KY

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Fort Thomas.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google