Mineral 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).

$1,3902-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,1731-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$77,600Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Mineral County is $1,390 a month, up 2.1% from $1,361 in FY2026. Mineral County belongs to the Mineral 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 Mineral County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$968	$941	+2.9%	$872 – $1,064
1 bedroom	$1,173	$1,083	+8.3%	$1,056 – $1,290
2 bedrooms	$1,390	$1,361	+2.1%	$1,251 – $1,529
3 bedrooms	$1,679	$1,632	+2.9%	$1,512 – $1,846
4 bedrooms	$1,854	$1,915	−3.2%	$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 Mineral County that is typically $1,251 to $1,529 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?

$33,148median income of renter households (low reliability)

$801Median gross rent, all units

29%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

48%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $33,148 can afford about $829 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,390 is $561 (67.7%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $55,600 a year under the 30% rule, or $50,040 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Mineral County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$801 ±$127
Median income of renter households	$33,148 ±$18,781
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	47.5% ±15.9
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	21.5% ±11.8
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	381

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$565	$801	+41.8%
Median renter household income	$27,014	$33,148	+22.7%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	37.9%	47.5%	+9.6 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 $1,230 to $1,560 depending on the ZIP code.

All 7 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
59820	$1,090	$1,320	$1,560	$2,080	$2,500
59830	$850	$980	$1,230	$1,470	$1,830
59842	$970	$1,170	$1,390	$1,680	$1,850
59859	$850	$980	$1,230	$1,470	$1,870
59866	$1,000	$1,200	$1,440	$1,740	$1,970
59867	$970	$1,170	$1,390	$1,680	$1,850
59872	$850	$1,000	$1,230	$1,470	$1,730

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

HUD income limits for Mineral County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $77,600 (FY2025: $76,500, +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%)	$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.