At $1,639/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,639 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
30% of the median household income ($75,610) is $1,890 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,760).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Shelbyville. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Shelbyville, KY is majority owner-occupied, 26.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Shelbyville, KY has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $75,610 today, compared with $70,751 five years earlier. Census counts show Shelbyville, KY adding about 736 residents over the five-year window, up 4.3% on net. The renter share has eased from 45.4% to 43.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.
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Can you afford rent in Shelbyville on your salary?
At $1,639/mo, how Shelbyville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Shelbyville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Shelbyville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Shelbyville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Shelbyville is $1,639/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $940/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,180/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,540/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($75,610/yr), Shelbyville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Shelbyville?
Is rent going up or down in Shelbyville?
How does Shelbyville rent compare to other cities in Kentucky?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Shelbyville?
At $1,639/mo, rent takes ~26% of Shelbyville's median household income ($75,610/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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