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City Report · KY

Murray

Pop. 18,080·31st most expensive in Kentucky·Rents have been falling, good time to negotiate
Median rent (all units)
$1,079/mo
Year-over-Year
+0.3%
Month-over-Month
-3.0%
vs US Median
-$883
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Murray · $1,079
More affordable than 96% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,079/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$43,000/yr
Local median income
$44,091/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Murray's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$770
1 BR
$820
2 BR
$1,080
3 BR
$1,300
4 BR+
$1,430
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,080/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,079 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

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Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$12,948/yr
At $1,079/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (up only 0.3% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.3% YoY, -3.0% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Murray, KY is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 36.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,080
Median income
$44,091
Median age
25.8
Renters
58.3%
Age distribution
15.6%
43.2%
18.7%
13.1%
Under 1815.6%
18–3443.2%
35–5418.7%
55–649.4%
65+13.1%
Gender
46.4%
53.6%
Male46.4%
Female53.6%
Race & ethnicity
82.7%
White82.7%
Black6.9%
Hispanic3.4%
Asian3.6%
Other3.4%
Education (25+)
29.3%
25.2%
36.1%
No HS diploma9.4%
HS diploma29.3%
Some college25.2%
Bachelor's+36.1%
Housing tenure
41.7%
58.3%
Owner41.7%
Renter58.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Murray, KY has changed in 5 years

Income
$35,966 → $44,091
up 22.6%
Population
17,241 → 18,080
up 4.9%
Renter share
58.8% → 58.3%
-0.5 pts
Bachelor's+
35.5% → 36.1%
+0.6 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $35,966 in 2021 to $44,091 more recently. Census counts show Murray, KY adding about 839 residents over the five-year window, up 4.9% on net.

Community

Discussions about Murray

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View Murray rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Murray on your salary?

At $1,079/mo, how Murray rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Murray rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Murray

About renting in Murray, KY

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Murray is $1,079/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,080/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,300/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($44,091/yr), Murray ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Murray an affordable city for renters?

Murray is considered affordable for renters. At $1,079/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($44,091/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Murray falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Murray?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $43,000/year (~$21/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,079/mo in Murray. The local median household income is $44,091/yr, meaning the typical Murray household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Murray?

Rent in Murray has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.3% change year over year as of August 2026.

How does Murray rent compare to other cities in Kentucky?

Murray is one of the more affordable cities in Kentucky for rent, ranking #31 out of 36 tracked cities at $1,079/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Murray?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Murray ($1,079/mo): Martin ($961/mo), Hopkinsville ($1,062/mo).

What percentage of Murray residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 58.3% of Murray households are renters, while 41.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Murray has a strong rental market.

How does Murray rent compare to the national average?

Murray's median rent of $1,079/mo is $883 (45%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Kentucky, it ranks #31 out of 36 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,079/mo, rent takes ~29% of Murray's median household income ($44,091/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Murray 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4%
Run the Murray affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Murray, KY

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