County FMR · HUD FY2026

Liberty County Fair Market Rent

HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Liberty County, MT - 16% below the US average.

$807
1-bedroom FMR
$1,034
2-bedroom FMR
+11.2%
YoY change
-16%
vs US avg

The verdict

Liberty is the 4th cheapest of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #1,541 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 11.2% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.

#1,541
most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
#4
cheapest of 56 in Montana (2BR)
-25%
vs the state average
$32,280
income to afford it (30% rule)

Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (9.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (33.1%); 14 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 Liberty County, MT. Verify with HUD →

Liberty County, Montana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $807 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,034/mo and a studio is $775/mo. That's 16% below the national benchmark of $959 and 25% below the Montana average of $1,076.

Rent increased11.2% from FY 2025 ($726), outpacing inflation. The 30% affordability floor is comparatively reachable here at $32,280/year.

Observed renter burden: 30.2% of the 245 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: 1,993.

FMR filing desk

Area LIBERTY·COUNTY·MT·MT

Liberty County, MT: $807/mo 1BR · #1541 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026

  • FMR-AREA MT
  • 1BR-FMR $807
  • 2BR-FMR $1,034
  • RANK-MID #1,541
  • YOY-SURGE +11.2%
  • VSUS-BELOW -16%
  • VS-ST-LOW -25% MT
  • INC-ROOM 18%
  • POP-SMALL 2K
  • PHOTO-NEAR Yellowstone County
  • VOUCH-90-110 $726–$888
  • FY-2026 FY2026

Photo-finish peer: Yellowstone ($302 1BR gap)

Read with: Section 8 housing guide

Fair Market Rents (2026)

Studio
State avg: $988 · US avg: $893
$775/mo
↑ 13.3% YoY -22% vs state -13% vs US
1 Bedroom
State avg: $1,076 · US avg: $959
$807/mo
↑ 11.2% YoY -25% vs state -16% vs US
2 Bedroom
State avg: $1,336 · US avg: $1,175
$1,034/mo
↑ 10.8% YoY -23% vs state -12% vs US
3 Bedroom
State avg: $1,789 · US avg: $1,525
$1,438/mo
↑ 10.0% YoY -20% vs state -6% vs US
4 Bedroom
State avg: $2,113 · US avg: $1,756
$1,672/mo
↑ 12.3% YoY -21% vs state -5% vs US

Year-over-Year Comparison

Bedrooms FY 2025 FY 2026 Change
Studio $684
$775
+$91 (+13.3%)
1 Bedroom $726
$807
+$81 (+11.2%)
2 Bedroom $933
$1,034
+$101 (+10.8%)
3 Bedroom $1,307
$1,438
+$131 (+10.0%)
4 Bedroom $1,489
$1,672
+$183 (+12.3%)

Rent Burden Analysis

How much of household income goes to rent in Liberty County. The 30% threshold indicates cost burden.

Studio
17.5%
Affordable
Need $31,000/yr for 30% rule
1 Bedroom
18.2%
Affordable
Need $32,280/yr for 30% rule
2 Bedroom
23.3%
Affordable
Need $41,360/yr for 30% rule
3 Bedroom
32.4%
Burdened
Need $57,520/yr for 30% rule
4 Bedroom
37.7%
Burdened
Need $66,880/yr for 30% rule
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.

0%100%National avg22%23.3%
Liberty County 2-bedroom rent burden
County median income: $53,264 · National avg burden: 21.7% ·View Montana rent burden →

Where Liberty sits among every US county

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties

$1,034 higher than 51% of 3,145 counties

$600–$800: 23 counties (1%). Below this entry. $800–$1,000: 1,406 counties (45%). Below this entry. $1,000–$1,200: 723 counties (23%). This entry sits in this band. $1,200–$1,400: 417 counties (13%). Above this entry. $1,400–$1,600: 181 counties (6%). Above this entry. $1,600–$1,800: 172 counties (5%). Above this entry. $1,800–$2,000: 108 counties (3%). Above this entry. $2,000–$2,200: 29 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,200–$2,400: 40 counties (1%). Above this entry. $2,400–$2,600: 13 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,600–$2,800: 9 counties (0%). Above this entry. $2,800–$3,000: 15 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,000–$3,200: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,200–$3,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,400–$3,600: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,600–$3,800: 3 counties (0%). Above this entry. $3,800–$4,000: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,000–$4,200: 0 counties (0%). Above this entry. $4,200–$4,400: 1 counties (0%). Above this entry. This county $600 $4,400 every US county, bucketed by value

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 Liberty compares on 1-bedroom rent

1-bedroom FMR vs other Montana counties

1BR FMR / mo

What this shows Liberty 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), Liberty County (this county) ($807).

Source U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) As of FY2026

Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?

With a below-average 1-bedroom at $807/mo, most of these Montana occupations clear, or miss, the 30% affordability line.

Occupation MT Salary Rent Burden Verdict
Software Developers $100,190 9.7% Affordable
General & Operations Managers $85,240 11.4% Affordable
Registered Nurses $81,560 11.9% Affordable
Accountants & Auditors $74,400 13% Affordable
Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers $69,910 13.9% Affordable
Electricians $68,980 14% Affordable
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers $59,060 16.4% Affordable
Elementary School Teachers $56,200 17.2% Affordable
Paralegals & Legal Assistants $54,230 17.9% Affordable
Pharmacy Technicians $46,980 20.6% Affordable
Customer Service Representatives $43,820 22.1% Affordable
Janitors & Cleaners $37,390 25.9% Affordable
Retail Salespersons $35,000 27.7% Affordable
Teaching Assistants $33,720 28.7% Affordable
Fast Food & Counter Workers $29,280 33.1% Stretched
Salaries: BLS OES (Montana) median · 30% = affordable threshold · Try the salary calculator →

Rent Trends (2020–2026)

7-year Fair Market Rent history for Liberty County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.

Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Liberty (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 46.5% overall, from $551 to $807. The path there hasn't been smooth: year-over-year moves have swung by as much as 16.9% (FY 2021), a volatility pattern that makes single-year comparisons a poor guide to the underlying trend.

$500$600$700$800$900 FY2020FY2021FY2022FY2023FY2024FY2025FY2026 $807
Liberty County 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent, FY2020–FY2026
Year Studio 1 BR 2 BR
FY 2026 ↑11.2% $775 $807 $1,034
FY 2025 ↓9.9% $684 $726 $933
FY 2024 ↑10.3% $658 $806 $905
FY 2023 ↑10.1% $596 $731 $826
FY 2022 ↑3.1% $567 $664 $757
FY 2021 ↑16.9% $629 $644 $734
FY 2020 $547 $551 $714
Total change (6yr): +46.5%
Annualized: +6.6%/yr
1 BR: $551 → $807

Where Liberty County Ranks in Montana

Liberty 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 #4 of 56 counties in Montana. Nearest by rank: Phillips County ($973), Daniels County ($1,023), Powder River County ($1,025), Liberty County (this county) ($1,034), Granite County ($1,053), Beaverhead County ($1,072), Deer Lodge County ($1,080), Garfield County ($1,099), Sanders County ($1,115), Wheatland County ($1,117), Powell County ($1,133).

Phillips County
2 BR: $973/mo
Daniels County
2 BR: $1,023/mo
Powder River County
2 BR: $1,025/mo
Liberty County (this county)
2 BR: $1,034/mo
Granite County
2 BR: $1,053/mo
Beaverhead County
2 BR: $1,072/mo
Deer Lodge County
2 BR: $1,080/mo
Garfield County
2 BR: $1,099/mo
Sanders County
2 BR: $1,115/mo
Wheatland County
2 BR: $1,117/mo
Powell County
2 BR: $1,133/mo

Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden

Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Liberty 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).

Hughes County
SD · 2 BR $1,034/mo
Stanley County
SD · 2 BR $1,034/mo
Genesee County
MI · 2 BR $1,033/mo
Cambria County
PA · 2 BR $1,035/mo

Similar rent burden

Nearest 2BR FMR as a share of median household income (outside MT).

Uvalde County
TX · 23.3% of income · 2 BR $1,123/mo
McLennan County
TX · 23.3% of income · 2 BR $1,240/mo
Cook County
GA · 23.3% of income · 2 BR $973/mo
Kankakee County
IL · 23.3% of income · 2 BR $1,326/mo

Nearby Counties in Montana

Largest counties by population in Montana

Showing the 8 largest of 55 other counties in Montana.

Yellowstone County
1 BR: $1,109/mo Pop: 165,524
Gallatin County
1 BR: $1,642/mo Pop: 119,685
Missoula County
1 BR: $1,400/mo Pop: 118,541
Flathead County
1 BR: $1,289/mo Pop: 105,950
Cascade County
1 BR: $979/mo Pop: 84,423
Lewis and Clark County
1 BR: $1,319/mo Pop: 71,487
Ravalli County
1 BR: $1,145/mo Pop: 44,876
Silver Bow County
1 BR: $1,149/mo Pop: 35,306
View all counties in Montana →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average rent in Liberty County? ▼
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Liberty County is $807 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,034 and a studio is $775.
How does Liberty County rent compare to the national average? ▼
Rent in Liberty County is 16% below the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $807 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Liberty County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent? ▼
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Liberty County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,034 ranks #1,541 most expensive among 3,145 HUD counties, placing it in the middle half of HUD counties.
What income do I need to afford rent in Liberty County? ▼
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $32,280 ($2,690/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Liberty County.
Is rent going up or down in Liberty County? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Liberty County increased by 11.2% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $726 to $807.
Which jobs can afford rent in Liberty County? ▼
Based on Montana BLS salary data and the 30% affordability rule, jobs like Software Developers, General and Operations Managers, Registered Nurses can afford a 1-bedroom at $807/mo. 14 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Liberty County over time? ▼
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Liberty County went from $551 in FY 2020 to $807 in FY 2026, a total change of +46.5% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Liberty County? ▼
In Liberty County, the FY 2026 FMR of $807/mo for a 1-bedroom sets the baseline that local housing authorities use for Section 8 payment standards.
What does Fair Market Rent mean for Liberty County? ▼
For Liberty County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($807/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).

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.

All federal data sources used on this page
  • HUD Fair Market Rents (FMR) - county-level fair-market rent estimates by bedroom count. huduser.gov/datasets/fmr
  • HUD Income Limits - area median income for affordability calculations. huduser.gov/datasets/il
  • HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) - rent burden and housing-cost distribution. huduser.gov/datasets/cp
  • U.S. Census Bureau ACS - county and metro housing characteristics + median rent. census.gov/programs-surveys/acs
  • BLS Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence - rent inflation by metro. bls.gov/cpi
  • IRS Migration Data (SOI) - interstate migration aggregates affecting county demand. irs.gov/statistics/migration
  • BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics - state-level median wages by occupation, used for job affordability analysis. bls.gov/oes

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.