Dawson 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).

$1,2572-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9611-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$80,55080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$100,900Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Dawson County is $1,257 a month, up 0.2% from $1,254 in FY2026. Dawson County belongs to the Dawson 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 Dawson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$961	$940	+2.2%	$865 – $1,057
1 bedroom	$961	$956	+0.5%	$865 – $1,057
2 bedrooms	$1,257	$1,254	+0.2%	$1,132 – $1,382
3 bedrooms	$1,587	$1,504	+5.5%	$1,429 – $1,745
4 bedrooms	$2,065	$1,942	+6.3%	$1,859 – $2,271

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 Dawson County that is typically $1,132 to $1,382 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?

$49,931median income of renter households

$815Median gross rent, all units

20%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

36%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $49,931 can afford about $1,248 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,257 is $9 (0.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,280 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,252 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Dawson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$815 ±$120
Median income of renter households	$49,931 ±$11,762
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	35.5% ±14.4
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	13.3% ±8.1
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	915

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$784	$815	+4.0%
Median renter household income	$39,323	$49,931	+27.0%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	31.3%	35.5%	+4.2 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 Dawson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $100,900 (FY2025: $91,600, +10.2%). 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%)	$21,150 +9.9%	$24,200 +10.0%	$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%)	$35,250 +9.8%	$40,300 +10.0%	$45,350 +9.9%	$50,350 +9.9%	$54,400 +9.9%	$58,450 +10.0%	$62,450 +9.9%	$66,500 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$56,400 +9.8%	$64,450 +9.9%	$72,500 +9.8%	$80,550 +9.9%	$87,000 +9.8%	$93,450 +9.9%	$99,900 +9.9%	$106,350 +9.9%

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.