County FMR · HUD FY2026
Broadwater County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Broadwater County, MT - 66% above the US average.
- $1,595
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,748
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +31.3%
- YoY change
- +66%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Broadwater is the 2nd most expensive of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #252 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 31.3% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #252
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #2
- most expensive of 56 in Montana (2BR)
- +48%
- vs the state average
- $63,800
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (19.1%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (65.4%); only 6 of 15 common occupations here can afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding the 30% threshold; 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 Broadwater County, MT. Verify with HUD →
Broadwater County, Montana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,595 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,748/mo and a studio is $1,240/mo. That's 66% above the national benchmark of $959 and 48% above the Montana average of $1,076.
Rent increased31.3% from FY 2025 ($1,215), outpacing inflation. Clearing the 30% rule here takes $63,800/year, a high bar relative to most US counties.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Montana. Population: 6,977. Population grew 25.3% over the past five years (Census ACS) - among the faster-growing counties nationally, a trend that typically adds upward pressure on rents. That's faster than Montana's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.
What these rents mean for Broadwater County
HUD publishes one FMR schedule per FMR area (often the county). Local housing authorities use it as the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher payment-standard baseline. See how FMR is calculated.
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Broadwater County's 2-bedroom of $1,748 ranks #252 most expensive of 3,145 US counties, in the highest-rent tenth of HUD counties.
Broadwater County sits in the expensive tier: 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent is 66% above the US average of $959, and 48% above the Montana average of $1,076. Voucher payment standards and renter budgets both feel that premium. From FY 2025 to FY 2026 the 1-bedroom schedule moved $1,215 → $1,595 (+31.3%), widening an already-expensive gap versus national norms.
At $1,595/mo for a 1-bedroom, the 30% rule wants $63,800/year: about 0% above this county's median household income of $63,636, so a typical local wage already stretches.
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,059 | $1,240 | +$181 (+17.1%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,215 | $1,595 | +$380 (+31.3%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,443 | $1,748 | +$305 (+21.1%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,739 | $2,096 | +$357 (+20.5%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $2,302 | $2,856 | +$554 (+24.1%) |
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 Broadwater 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.
Where Broadwater sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,748 Top 8% higher than 92% 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 Broadwater compares on 1-bedroom rent
1-bedroom FMR vs other Montana counties
- Gallatin
Gallatin County
$1,642 1BR FMR / mo
- Broadwater
Broadwater County
$1,595 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
What this shows Broadwater is highlighted. Nearby Montana counties by 1-bedroom FMR, highest to lowest: Gallatin County ($1,642), Broadwater County (this county) ($1,595), Missoula County ($1,400), Lewis and Clark County ($1,319), Flathead County ($1,289), Yellowstone County ($1,109), Cascade County ($979).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,595/mo, which of 15 common occupations still clear the 30% line using Montana BLS wages?
| Occupation | MT Salary | Rent Burden | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $100,190 | 19.1% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,240 | 22.5% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,560 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,400 | 25.7% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,910 | 27.4% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $68,980 | 27.7% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,060 | 32.4% | Stretched |
| Elementary School Teachers | $56,200 | 34.1% | Stretched |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,230 | 35.3% | Stretched |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,980 | 40.7% | Stretched |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,820 | 43.7% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,390 | 51.2% | Unaffordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,000 | 54.7% | Unaffordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $33,720 | 56.8% | Unaffordable |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,280 | 65.4% | Unaffordable |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Broadwater County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Broadwater (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 147.3% overall, from $645 to $1,595. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 31.3% (FY 2026), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑31.3% | $1,240 | $1,595 | $1,748 |
| FY 2025 ↑29.5% | $1,059 | $1,215 | $1,443 |
| FY 2024 ↑21.0% | $829 | $938 | $1,141 |
| FY 2023 ↑24.6% | $715 | $775 | $992 |
| FY 2022 ↓4.0% | $566 | $622 | $802 |
| FY 2021 ↑0.5% | $598 | $648 | $854 |
| FY 2020 | $586 | $645 | $850 |
Part of the Helena, MT Metro Area
Broadwater County is a outlying county of the Helena, MT metropolitan statistical area, alongside 2 other metro-area counties.
Broadwater County ranks #1 of 3 counties in this metro area by 1-bedroom FMR. Every county sharing this metro, highest to lowest: Broadwater County (this county) ($1,595), Lewis and Clark County ($1,319), Jefferson County ($1,070).
Nearby Counties in Montana
Largest counties by population in Montana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Broadwater County? ▼
How does Broadwater County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Broadwater County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Broadwater County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Broadwater County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Broadwater County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Broadwater County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Broadwater County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Broadwater County? ▼
What this means for renters
Treat Broadwater'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 $1,595 implies about $63,800/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 Broadwater 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.