County FMR · HUD FY2026
Beaverhead County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Beaverhead County, MT - 2% above the US average.
- $978
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,072
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +16.0%
- YoY change
- +2%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Beaverhead is the 6th cheapest of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 16.0% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #6
- cheapest of 56 in Montana (2BR)
- -9%
- vs the state average
- $39,120
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +16.0%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (11.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (40.1%); nearby Montana counties range as much as 68% apart in 1-bedroom FMR, so the county line itself can matter for renters comparing options.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent for Beaverhead County, MT. Verify with HUD →
Beaverhead County, Montana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $978 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,072/mo and a studio is $803/mo. That's 2% above the national benchmark of $959 and 9% below the Montana average of $1,076.
Rent increased16.0% from FY 2025 ($843), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $39,120/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Montana. Population: 9,469. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+2.1%, Census ACS). That's slower than Montana's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Beaverhead County
The Beaverhead County FMR area applies to all ZIP codes inside the county boundary, and Montana's housing authorities use it as the baseline for Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. See how FMR is calculated for the full 40th-percentile methodology and payment-standard rules.
Compared to the rest of the country, a 1-bedroom here is 2% above the US average of $959 and 9% lower than the Montana state average of $1,076. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$843 in FY 2025 to $978 in FY 2026 - a change of +16.0%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $978, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $39,120 per year (about $3,260/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,072 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 9,469 and a county median household income of $58,072, the arithmetic here directly shapes which wage earners can rent without being cost-burdened.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $684 | $803 | +$119 (+17.4%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $843 | $978 | +$135 (+16.0%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,072 | +$139 (+14.9%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,307 | $1,491 | +$184 (+14.1%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,567 | $1,798 | +$231 (+14.7%) |
Affordability Snapshot
Based on the standard that rent should not exceed 30% of gross income:
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Beaverhead County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.
How we calculate this
Rent burden = (FMR × 12) ÷ county median household income. Required income = (FMR × 12) ÷ 0.3, the federal 30%-of-gross-income rule HUD uses to define cost burden. Median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey; FMR is from HUD's FY2026 release. See methodology.
Beaverhead County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Beaverhead sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,072 higher than 56% of 3,145 counties
Each bar is a $0.2K-wide band; taller bars hold more counties. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents · FY2026
How Beaverhead compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Montana counties
- Gallatin
Gallatin County
$1,642 1BR FMR / mo
- Missoula
Missoula County
$1,400 1BR FMR / mo
- Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark County
$1,319 1BR FMR / mo
- Flathead
Flathead County
$1,289 1BR FMR / mo
- Yellowstone
Yellowstone County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Cascade
Cascade County
$979 1BR FMR / mo
- Beaverhead
Beaverhead County
$978 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Beaverhead is highlighted. Nearby Montana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Gallatin County ($1,642), Missoula County ($1,400), Lewis and Clark County ($1,319), Flathead County ($1,289), Yellowstone County ($1,109), Cascade County ($979), Beaverhead County (this county) ($978).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $978/mo compares to Montana salaries for popular occupations (BLS wage data, 30%-of-income rule).
| Occupation | MT Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $100,190 | 11.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,240 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,560 | 14.4% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,400 | 15.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,910 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $68,980 | 17% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,060 | 19.9% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $56,200 | 20.9% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,230 | 21.6% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,980 | 25% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,820 | 26.8% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,390 | 31.4% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,000 | 33.5% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $33,720 | 34.8% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,280 | 40.1% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Beaverhead County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Beaverhead (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 56.0% overall, from $627 to $978. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +16.0% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑16.0% | $803 | $978 | $1,072 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.6% | $684 | $843 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.3% | $656 | $806 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.1% | $587 | $731 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.3% | $541 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.6% | $542 | $643 | $756 |
| FY 2020 | $517 | $627 | $750 |
Where Beaverhead County Ranks in Montana
Beaverhead County is not part of any federally-designated metropolitan or micropolitan statistical area -- an independent rental market not administratively tied to a larger urban core. By 2-bedroom FMR, it ranks #6 of 56 counties in Montana. Nearest by rank: Phillips County ($973), Daniels County ($1,023), Powder River County ($1,025), Liberty County ($1,034), Granite County ($1,053), Beaverhead County (this county) ($1,072), Deer Lodge County ($1,080), Garfield County ($1,099), Sanders County ($1,115), Wheatland County ($1,117), Powell County ($1,133), Judith Basin County ($1,160), Lincoln County ($1,170).
Nearby Counties in Montana
Largest counties by population in Montana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Beaverhead County? ▼
How does Beaverhead County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Beaverhead County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Beaverhead County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Beaverhead County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Beaverhead County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Beaverhead County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Beaverhead County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Beaverhead's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $978 implies about $39,120/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Compare this county against nearby metros and states before signing a lease. Compare areas
- See where it sits on the national rent map. View rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents in Beaverhead can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This page is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and HUD Fair Market Rents. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Every figure on PlainRent is rendered directly from HUD's published Fair Market Rent records, no number is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of FY 2026.