Petroleum 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).

$1,5522-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$1,2181-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$82,700Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Petroleum County is $1,552 a month, up 0.3% from $1,548 in FY2026. Petroleum County belongs to the Petroleum 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 Petroleum County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$1,186	$1,160	+2.2%	$1,068 – $1,304
1 bedroom	$1,218	$1,208	+0.8%	$1,097 – $1,339
2 bedrooms	$1,552	$1,548	+0.3%	$1,397 – $1,707
3 bedrooms	$2,149	$2,139	+0.5%	$1,935 – $2,363
4 bedrooms	$2,549	$2,503	+1.8%	$2,295 – $2,803

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 Petroleum County that is typically $1,397 to $1,707 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?

$48,333median income of renter households (low reliability)

$800Median gross rent, all units

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

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $48,333 can afford about $1,208 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,552 is $344 (28.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $62,080 a year under the 30% rule, or $55,872 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Petroleum County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$800 ±$227
Median income of renter households	$48,333 ±$25,958
Rent burden	too few renter households for a reliable share

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$490	$800	+63.3%
Median renter household income	$32,500	$48,333	+48.7%

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 Petroleum County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $82,700 (FY2025: $92,200, −10.3%). 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%)	$19,150 −1.3%	$21,850 −1.4%	$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 −1.4%	$36,400 −1.4%	$40,950 −1.3%	$45,500 −1.3%	$49,150 −1.3%	$52,800 −1.3%	$56,450 −1.3%	$60,100 −1.3%
Low income (80%)	$51,000 −1.3%	$58,250 −1.3%	$65,550 −1.3%	$72,800 −1.3%	$78,650 −1.3%	$84,450 −1.3%	$90,300 −1.3%	$96,100 −1.3%

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.