County FMR · HUD FY2026
Garfield County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Garfield County, MT - 11% below the US average.
- $858
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,099
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +19.7%
- YoY change
- -11%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Garfield is the 8th cheapest of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,289 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 19.7% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #1,289
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #8
- cheapest of 56 in Montana (2BR)
- -20%
- vs the state average
- $34,320
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (10.3%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (35.2%); 13 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 Garfield County, MT. Verify with HUD →
The Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Garfield County, Montana is $858 per month in FY 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). A 2-bedroom costs $1,099/mo and a studio is $824/mo. This is 11% lower than the national average of $959 and 20% below the Montana average of $1,076.
Rent increased19.7% from FY 2025 ($717), outpacing inflation. Under the 30% rule, affordability starts near $34,320/year for a 1-bedroom.
Observed renter burden: 24.0% of the 121 renter households counted by ACS paid at least 30% of income in gross rent. This ACS 2023 household measure is distinct from HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent benchmark above.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Montana. Population: 976.
FMR filing desk
Area GARFIELD·COUNTY·MT·MT
Garfield County, MT: $858/mo 1BR · #1289 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MT
- 1BR-FMR $858
- 2BR-FMR $1,099
- RANK-MID #1,289
- YOY-SURGE +19.7%
- VSUS-BELOW -11%
- VS-ST-LOW -20% MT
- INC-ROOM 17%
- POP-SMALL 976
- PHOTO-NEAR Yellowstone County
- VOUCH-90-110 $772–$944
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Yellowstone ($251 1BR gap)
Read with: How Fair Market Rent works
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $684 | $824 | +$140 (+20.5%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $717 | $858 | +$141 (+19.7%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $933 | $1,099 | +$166 (+17.8%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,126 | $1,349 | +$223 (+19.8%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,489 | $1,777 | +$288 (+19.3%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Garfield 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 Garfield sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,099 higher than 59% 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 Garfield 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
- Garfield
Garfield County
$858 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Garfield 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), Garfield County (this county) ($858).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
How a 1-bedroom at $858/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 | 10.3% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,240 | 12.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,560 | 12.6% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,400 | 13.8% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,910 | 14.7% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $68,980 | 14.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,060 | 17.4% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $56,200 | 18.3% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,230 | 19% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,980 | 21.9% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,820 | 23.5% | Affordable |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,390 | 27.5% | Affordable |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,000 | 29.4% | Affordable |
| Teaching Assistants | $33,720 | 30.5% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,280 | 35.2% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Garfield County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Garfield (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 55.7% overall, from $551 to $858. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +19.7% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑19.7% | $824 | $858 | $1,099 |
| FY 2025 ↑4.1% | $684 | $717 | $933 |
| FY 2024 ↑6.0% | $658 | $689 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑13.0% | $596 | $650 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑2.5% | $535 | $575 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑1.8% | $514 | $561 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $492 | $551 | $714 |
Where Garfield County Ranks in Montana
Garfield 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 #8 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 ($1,072), Deer Lodge County ($1,080), Garfield County (this 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 ($1,184).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Garfield County, both outside Montana so the link neighborhoods are not the same-state geography lattice above. Axes stay disjoint: burden peers exclude the FMR peer set.
Similar 2-bedroom FMR
Nearest HUD 2BR Fair Market Rents outside MT (FY2026).
Similar rent burden
Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MT).
Nearby Counties in Montana
Largest counties by population in Montana
Showing the 8 largest of 55 other counties in Montana.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average rent in Garfield County? ▼
How does Garfield County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Where does Garfield County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
What income do I need to afford rent in Garfield County? ▼
Is rent going up or down in Garfield County? ▼
Which jobs can afford rent in Garfield County? ▼
How much has rent changed in Garfield County over time? ▼
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Garfield County? ▼
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Garfield County? ▼
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.