Broadwater 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).

$1,7552-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,6121-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$81,50080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$88,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Broadwater County is $1,755 a month, up 0.4% from $1,748 in FY2026. Broadwater County belongs to the Broadwater County, MT HUD Metro FMR Area FMR area, 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 Broadwater County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,222	$1,240	−1.5%	$1,100 – $1,344
1 bedroom	$1,612	$1,595	+1.1%	$1,451 – $1,773
2 bedrooms	$1,755	$1,748	+0.4%	$1,580 – $1,930
3 bedrooms	$2,258	$2,096	+7.7%	$2,033 – $2,483
4 bedrooms	$2,571	$2,856	−10.0%	$2,314 – $2,828

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 Broadwater County that is typically $1,580 to $1,930 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?

$31,806median income of renter households

$955Median gross rent, all units

36%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

58%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $31,806 can afford about $795 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,755 is $960 (120.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $70,200 a year under the 30% rule, or $63,180 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Broadwater County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$955 ±$130
Median income of renter households	$31,806 ±$11,997
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	58.2% ±21.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	35.4% ±18.9
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	328

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$752	$955	+27.0%
Median renter household income	$41,275	$31,806	−22.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	35.8%	58.2%	+22.4 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.

Small Area FMRs by ZIP code (FY2027)

In metro areas HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area Fair Market Rents. Housing authorities in designated areas must use them for voucher payment standards; others may opt in. Here the two-bedroom SAFMR ranges from $1,520 to $1,940 depending on the ZIP code.

All 7 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
59635	$1,060	$1,230	$1,520	$2,090	$2,190
59641	$1,230	$1,620	$1,760	$2,260	$2,580
59643	$1,240	$1,520	$1,770	$2,350	$2,630
59644	$1,250	$1,650	$1,800	$2,320	$2,620
59645	$1,120	$1,440	$1,580	$1,940	$2,580
59647	$1,210	$1,540	$1,740	$2,290	$2,580
59752	$1,340	$1,510	$1,940	$2,700	$3,190

Source: HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs (effective October 1, 2026).

HUD income limits for Broadwater County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $88,200 (FY2025: $87,000, +1.4%). 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%)	$21,400 +8.4%	$24,450 +8.4%	$27,500 +3.2%	$33,000 +2.6%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$35,700 +8.7%	$40,800 +8.7%	$45,900 +8.6%	$50,950 +8.6%	$55,050 +8.7%	$59,150 +8.6%	$63,200 +8.6%	$67,300 +8.7%
Low income (80%)	$57,050 +8.7%	$65,200 +8.7%	$73,350 +8.7%	$81,500 +8.7%	$88,050 +8.7%	$94,550 +8.7%	$101,100 +8.7%	$107,600 +8.7%

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.