City Report · KY

Murray

Pop. 18,080·31st most expensive in Kentucky·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,116/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.8%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
vs US Median
-$816
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Murray · $1,116
More affordable than 95% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
30% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,116/mo, rent takes about 30% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$45,000/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 $1,116 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Kentucky

Rent in Murray changed +4.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 26 Kentucky cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.2%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($44,091) is $1,102 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,080); a 3-bedroom is $1,300.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Murray. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,392/yr
At $1,116/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 4.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.8% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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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 $1,116/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: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Murray is $1,116/mo as of October 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 30% of local median household income ($44,091/yr), Murray ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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 $45,000/year (about $22/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,116/mo in Murray. The local median household income is $44,091/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Murray?

Rent in Murray has risen 4.8% over the past year.

How does Murray rent compare to other cities in Kentucky?

Murray is one of the more affordable among Kentucky cities for rent, ranking #31 of 38 tracked cities at $1,116/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Murray changed +4.8%, against a typical +4.2% across the 26 Kentucky cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Murray?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Murray ($1,116/mo) include Martin ($961/mo), and Hopkinsville ($1,035/mo).
Income Affordability
30%
MODERATE

At $1,116/mo, rent takes ~30% of Murray's median household income ($44,091/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Murray 30%Benchmark 30%
State income tax4%
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Murray, KY

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