Pondera 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

$1,0301-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$77,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Pondera County is $1,257 a month, up 0.2% from $1,254 in FY2026. Pondera County belongs to the Pondera 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 Pondera 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	$1,030	$1,144	−10.0%	$927 – $1,133
2 bedrooms	$1,257	$1,254	+0.2%	$1,132 – $1,382
3 bedrooms	$1,705	$1,619	+5.3%	$1,535 – $1,875
4 bedrooms	$2,023	$1,892	+6.9%	$1,821 – $2,225

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 Pondera 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?

$42,750median income of renter households

$784Median gross rent, all units

22%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 $42,750 can afford about $1,069 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,257 is $188 (17.6%) 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.

Pondera County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$784 ±$117
Median income of renter households	$42,750 ±$4,718
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	36.0% ±7.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	11.5% ±5.3
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	520

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$652	$784	+20.2%
Median renter household income	$30,658	$42,750	+39.4%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	44.0%	36.0%	−8.0 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 Pondera County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $77,100 (FY2025: $79,900, −3.5%). 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.