Jefferson 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).

$1,4102-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,0781-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$91,75080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$115,200Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Jefferson County is $1,410 a month, up 0.4% from $1,404 in FY2026. Jefferson County belongs to the Jefferson 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 Jefferson County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$982	$968	+1.4%	$884 – $1,080
1 bedroom	$1,078	$1,070	+0.7%	$971 – $1,185
2 bedrooms	$1,410	$1,404	+0.4%	$1,269 – $1,551
3 bedrooms	$1,847	$1,946	−5.1%	$1,663 – $2,031
4 bedrooms	$1,854	$1,954	−5.1%	$1,669 – $2,039

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 Jefferson County that is typically $1,269 to $1,551 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?

$58,578median income of renter households

$925Median gross rent, all units

19%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

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

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $58,578 can afford about $1,464 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,410 is $54 (3.7%) less than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $56,400 a year under the 30% rule, or $50,760 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Jefferson County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$925 ±$58
Median income of renter households	$58,578 ±$10,118
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	30.0% ±8.2
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	14.5% ±7.4
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	553

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$788	$925	+17.4%
Median renter household income	$37,335	$58,578	+56.9%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	33.4%	30.0%	−3.4 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 $1,320 to $1,940 depending on the ZIP code.

All 10 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
59601	$1,150	$1,320	$1,650	$2,280	$2,390
59631	$1,000	$1,130	$1,350	$1,850	$2,080
59632	$920	$1,010	$1,320	$1,760	$1,770
59634	$1,120	$1,230	$1,610	$2,190	$2,270
59635	$1,060	$1,230	$1,520	$2,090	$2,190
59638	$1,050	$1,150	$1,510	$1,980	$2,000
59701	$1,080	$1,180	$1,420	$1,970	$2,330
59721	$1,040	$1,090	$1,390	$1,870	$2,330
59752	$1,340	$1,510	$1,940	$2,700	$3,190
59759	$1,040	$1,090	$1,390	$1,870	$2,330

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

HUD income limits for Jefferson County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $115,200 (FY2025: $105,400, +9.3%). 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%)	$24,100 +9.8%	$27,550 +10.0%	$31,000 +9.9%	$34,400 +7.0%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$40,150 +10.0%	$45,850 +10.0%	$51,600 +9.9%	$57,350 +10.0%	$61,950 +9.9%	$66,550 +10.0%	$71,150 +10.0%	$75,700 +9.9%
Low income (80%)	$64,250 +9.9%	$73,400 +9.9%	$82,600 +9.9%	$91,750 +9.9%	$99,100 +9.9%	$106,450 +9.9%	$113,800 +10.0%	$121,150 +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.