Blaine County, MT: Fair Market Rent 2027 and Income Limits

Official HUD figures for landlords and renters, effective October 1, 2026 (rents) and May 1, 2026 (income limits).

$1,1872-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9321-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$72,80080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$87,800Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Blaine County is $1,187 a month, up 0.3% from $1,184 in FY2026. Blaine County belongs to the Blaine County, MT FMR area (non-metro county), so the same figures apply across that area. FMRs are gross rents: rent plus all tenant-paid utilities except phone, cable and internet.

Fair market rent in Blaine County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$907	$887	+2.3%	$817 – $997
1 bedroom	$932	$902	+3.3%	$839 – $1,025
2 bedrooms	$1,187	$1,184	+0.3%	$1,069 – $1,305
3 bedrooms	$1,433	$1,420	+0.9%	$1,290 – $1,576
4 bedrooms	$1,950	$1,914	+1.9%	$1,755 – $2,145

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective October 1, 2026) and FY2026 (revised file), details.

What can a landlord charge a Section 8 tenant here?

The FMR is not a cap on what you can ask on the open market. For a Housing Choice Voucher tenant, the local housing authority sets a payment standard, normally between 90% and 110% of the FMR (or of the ZIP-level Small Area FMR where those apply). For a two-bedroom unit in Blaine County that is typically $1,069 to $1,305 including utilities. You can charge more than the payment standard if the rent passes the housing authority's rent-reasonableness test and, at move-in, the tenant's share stays within 40% of their adjusted monthly income. Ask the housing authority for its current payment standard schedule.

Can local renters afford the fair market rent?

$43,889median income of renter households

$660Median gross rent, all units

18%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

29%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $43,889 can afford about $1,097 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,187 is $90 (8.2%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $47,480 a year under the 30% rule, or $42,732 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Blaine County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$660 ±$75
Median income of renter households	$43,889 ±$7,844
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	28.5% ±8.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.4% ±7.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	571

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$466	$660	+41.6%
Median renter household income	$28,882	$43,889	+52.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	26.7%	28.5%	+1.8 pts

Rent-to-income calculator: does an applicant qualify? → · Most affordable counties to rent in this state →

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2020–2024 and 2015–2019 (tables B25064, B25119, B25070). ± = margin of error at 90% confidence. Dollar figures are not adjusted for inflation.

HUD income limits for Blaine County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $87,800 (FY2025: $86,100, +2.0%). Small figures under each limit show the change from FY2025.

Household size	1 person	2 people	3 people	4 people	5 people	6 people	7 people	8 people
Extremely low income (30%)	$19,150 +4.4%	$21,850 +3.3%	$27,320 +2.5%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$31,850 +4.1%	$36,400 +4.1%	$40,950 +4.2%	$45,500 +4.2%	$49,150 +4.2%	$52,800 +4.2%	$56,450 +4.2%	$60,100 +4.2%
Low income (80%)	$51,000 +4.3%	$58,250 +4.2%	$65,550 +4.2%	$72,800 +4.2%	$78,650 +4.2%	$84,450 +4.2%	$90,300 +4.2%	$96,100 +4.2%

The 30% limit is HUD's “extremely low income” limit: the higher of 30% of median income or the federal poverty guideline, but never above the 50% limit. That is why it can rise faster than 30% of median for larger households. Tax-credit (LIHTC) properties use separate Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project limits.

Source: HUD Section 8 Income Limits FY2026 (effective May 1, 2026) and FY2025, details.