Wheatland 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).

$1,1192-bedroom FMR, FY2027

$8781-bedroom FMR, FY2027

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

$67,100Median family income (FY2026)

The FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit in Wheatland County is $1,119 a month, up 0.2% from $1,117 in FY2026. Wheatland County belongs to the Wheatland 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 Wheatland County by bedroom count

Unit size	FY2027 FMR	FY2026 FMR	Change	Payment standard range (90–110%)
Studio	$855	$837	+2.2%	$770 – $940
1 bedroom	$878	$872	+0.7%	$791 – $965
2 bedrooms	$1,119	$1,117	+0.2%	$1,008 – $1,230
3 bedrooms	$1,549	$1,553	−0.3%	$1,395 – $1,703
4 bedrooms	$1,838	$1,806	+1.8%	$1,655 – $2,021

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 Wheatland County that is typically $1,008 to $1,230 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?

$34,063median income of renter households (low reliability)

$730Median gross rent, all units

26%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 $34,063 can afford about $852 a month including utilities. The FY2027 two-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,119 is $267 (31.4%) more than that. To rent a two-bedroom at the FMR, a household needs $44,760 a year under the 30% rule, or $40,284 under the common landlord rule that income must be three times the rent.

Wheatland County, ACS 2020–2024	Estimate ± MOE
Median gross rent (rent + utilities)	$730 ±$62
Median income of renter households	$34,063 ±$23,405
Renters paying 30% or more of income (cost-burdened)	29.1% ±31.0
Renters paying 50% or more (severely cost-burdened)	1.7% ±2.2
Renter households (where the share can be computed)	117

Change since 2015–2019

	ACS 2015–2019	ACS 2020–2024	Change
Median gross rent	$607	$730	+20.3%
Median renter household income	$44,000	$34,063	−22.6%
Renters paying 30%+ of income	18.2%	29.1%	+10.9 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 Wheatland County (FY2026)

Income limits decide who qualifies for Section 8 vouchers, public housing and most HUD-assisted units. The area median family income is $67,100 (FY2025: $65,100, +3.1%). 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.