County FMR · HUD FY2026
Blaine County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Blaine County, MT - 6% below the US average.
- $902
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,184
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +21.1%
- YoY change
- -6%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Blaine is the 15th cheapest of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; rent here has climbed 21.1% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #15
- cheapest of 56 in Montana (2BR)
- -16%
- vs the state average
- $36,080
- income to afford it (30% rule)
- +21.1%
- YoY, FY2025→2026
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.8%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (37%); 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 Blaine County, MT. Verify with HUD →
Blaine County, Montana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $902 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,184/mo and a studio is $887/mo. That's 6% below the national benchmark of $959 and 16% below the Montana average of $1,076.
Rent increased21.1% from FY 2025 ($745), outpacing inflation. To afford rent here, a household needs at least $36,080/year based on the 30% affordability rule.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Montana. Population: 7,030. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (+4.0%, Census ACS). That's slower than Montana's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Blaine County
The Blaine 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 6% below the US average of $959 and 16% lower than the Montana state average of $1,076. The 1-bedroom FMR went from$745 in FY 2025 to $902 in FY 2026 - a change of +21.1%, which outpaces typical consumer inflation.
At the FY 2026 1-bedroom FMR of $902, affording it under the 30%-of-income rule takes $36,080 per year (about $3,007/month) in household income, and a 2-bedroom at $1,184 pushes that threshold even higher. With a population of 7,030 and a county median household income of $65,050, 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 | $717 | $887 | +$170 (+23.7%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $745 | $902 | +$157 (+21.1%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $977 | $1,184 | +$207 (+21.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,177 | $1,420 | +$243 (+20.6%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,559 | $1,914 | +$355 (+22.8%) |
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 Blaine 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.
Blaine County 2-bedroom rent burden
Where Blaine sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,184 Top 33% higher than 67% 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 Blaine 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
- Blaine
Blaine County
$902 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Blaine 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), Blaine County (this county) ($902).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $902/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 | 10.8% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,240 | 12.7% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,560 | 13.3% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,400 | 14.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,910 | 15.5% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $68,980 | 15.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,060 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $56,200 | 19.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,230 | 20% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,980 | 23% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,820 | 24.7% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,390 | 28.9% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,000 | 30.9% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $33,720 | 32.1% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,280 | 37% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Blaine County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Blaine (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 43.9% overall, from $627 to $902. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +21.1% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑21.1% | $887 | $902 | $1,184 |
| FY 2025 ↑7.5% | $717 | $745 | $977 |
| FY 2024 ↑1.6% | $658 | $693 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑2.7% | $596 | $682 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑3.1% | $535 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑2.7% | $514 | $644 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $492 | $627 | $714 |
Where Blaine County Ranks in Montana
Blaine 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 #15 of 56 counties in Montana. Nearest by rank: 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), Sweet Grass County ($1,176), Blaine County (this county) ($1,184), Rosebud County ($1,186), Valley County ($1,200), Roosevelt County ($1,201), Sheridan County ($1,211), Toole County ($1,230), Carter County ($1,244), Dawson County ($1,254).
Nearby Counties in Montana
Largest counties by population in Montana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Blaine County? ▼
How does Blaine County rent compare to the national average? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Blaine County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Blaine County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Blaine County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Blaine County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Blaine County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Blaine County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Blaine'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 $902 implies about $36,080/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 Blaine 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.