Stillwater 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).

$1,2712-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$9721-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$89,85080% income limit, family of 4 (FY2026)

$112,300Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Stillwater County is $1,271 a month, up 1.1% from $1,257 in FY2026. Stillwater County belongs to the Stillwater 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 Stillwater County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$885	$884	+0.1%	$797 – $973
1 bedroom	$972	$958	+1.5%	$875 – $1,069
2 bedrooms	$1,271	$1,257	+1.1%	$1,144 – $1,398
3 bedrooms	$1,760	$1,748	+0.7%	$1,584 – $1,936
4 bedrooms	$2,124	$2,109	+0.7%	$1,912 – $2,336

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 Stillwater County that is typically $1,144 to $1,398 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?

$47,583median income of renter households

$961Median gross rent, all units

24%Rent-to-income ratio (median rent ÷ median renter income)

29%of renter households pay 30% or more of income on rent

At the 30% rule, a renter household earning the local median of $47,583 can afford about $1,190 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,271 is $81 (6.8%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $50,840 a year under the 30% rule, or $45,756 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Stillwater County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$961 ±$47
Median income of renter households	$47,583 ±$11,730
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	28.6% ±7.8
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	12.7% ±6.6
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	521

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$791	$961	+21.5%
Median renter household income	$42,279	$47,583	+12.5%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	37.4%	28.6%	−8.8 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 $1,160 to $1,860 depending on the ZIP code.

All 13 ZIP codes in this FMR area

ZIP	0 BR	1 BR	2 BR	3 BR	4 BR
59001	$920	$1,000	$1,290	$1,790	$2,150
59011	$890	$910	$1,160	$1,580	$1,900
59015	$1,020	$1,120	$1,380	$1,900	$2,230
59019	$920	$1,000	$1,280	$1,760	$2,010
59028	$1,030	$1,200	$1,480	$2,050	$2,450
59044	$920	$1,040	$1,310	$1,810	$2,070
59046	$980	$1,110	$1,300	$1,800	$2,110
59057	$1,030	$1,150	$1,470	$2,040	$2,390
59061	$1,090	$1,220	$1,550	$2,140	$2,530
59063	$1,060	$1,170	$1,530	$2,120	$2,550
59067	$1,050	$1,100	$1,410	$1,930	$2,220
59069	$1,340	$1,440	$1,860	$2,530	$2,900
59074	$1,010	$1,040	$1,320	$1,830	$2,170

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

HUD income limits for Stillwater County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $112,300 (FY2025: $109,900, +2.2%). 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%)	$23,600 +2.2%	$27,000 +2.3%	$30,350 +2.2%	$33,700 +2.3%	$38,680 +2.7%	$44,360 +2.8%	$50,040 +2.9%	$55,720 +2.9%
Very low income (50%)	$39,350 +2.2%	$44,950 +2.2%	$50,550 +2.1%	$56,150 +2.2%	$60,650 +2.2%	$65,150 +2.2%	$69,650 +2.2%	$74,150 +2.2%
Low income (80%)	$62,900 +2.2%	$71,900 +2.2%	$80,900 +2.2%	$89,850 +2.2%	$97,050 +2.2%	$104,250 +2.2%	$111,450 +2.2%	$118,650 +2.2%

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.