County FMR · HUD FY2026
Pondera County Fair Market Rent
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for Pondera County, MT - 19% above the US average.
- $1,144
- 1-bedroom FMR
- $1,254
- 2-bedroom FMR
- +22.4%
- YoY change
- +19%
- vs US avg
The verdict
Pondera is the 23rd cheapest of 56 counties in Montana by 2-bedroom FMR; nationally it ranks #881 most expensive of 3,145 HUD counties; rent here has climbed 22.4% since FY 2025, a sharp move relative to most counties.
- #881
- most expensive of 3,145 US counties (2BR)
- #23
- cheapest of 56 in Montana (2BR)
- +6%
- vs the state average
- $45,760
- income to afford it (30% rule)
Software Developers spend the smallest share of income on rent here (13.7%), while Fast Food and Counter Workers spend the most (46.9%); 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 Pondera County, MT. Verify with HUD →
Pondera County, Montana carries an FY 2026 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,144 per month, the federal benchmark HUD publishes for this county. A 2-bedroom costs $1,254/mo and a studio is $940/mo. That's 19% above the national benchmark of $959 and 6% above the Montana average of $1,076.
Rent increased22.4% from FY 2025 ($935), outpacing inflation. A household needs about $45,760/year to stay under the 30% rent-to-income line.
Observed renter burden: 25.2% of the 747 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.
Market slack: The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.6%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
Local labor market: The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.7% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
FY 2026 HUD Fair Market Rents in Montana. Population: 5,987. Population has held roughly steady over the past five years (-0.5%, Census ACS). That's slower than Montana's statewide growth of +6.1% over the same period.
FMR filing desk
Area PONDERA·COUNTY·MT·MT
Pondera County, MT: $1,144/mo 1BR · #881 of 3145 counties (2BR) · FY2026
- FMR-AREA MT
- 1BR-FMR $1,144
- 2BR-FMR $1,254
- RANK-MID #881
- YOY-SURGE +22.4%
- VSUS-ABOVE +19%
- VS-ST-NEAR +6% MT
- INC-MID 26%
- POP-SMALL 6K
- PHOTO-NEAR Yellowstone County
- VOUCH-90-110 $1,030–$1,258
- FY-2026 FY2026
Photo-finish peer: Yellowstone ($35 1BR gap)
Read with: Understanding rent burden
Fair Market Rents (2026)
Year-over-Year Comparison
| Bedrooms | FY 2025 | FY 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $759 | $940 | +$181 (+23.8%) |
| 1 Bedroom | $935 | $1,144 | +$209 (+22.4%) |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,035 | $1,254 | +$219 (+21.2%) |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,320 | $1,619 | +$299 (+22.7%) |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,622 | $1,892 | +$270 (+16.6%) |
Rent Burden Analysis
How much of household income goes to rent in Pondera 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 Pondera sits among every US county
2-bedroom Fair Market Rent vs. all 3,145 HUD counties
$1,254 Top 28% higher than 72% 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 Pondera 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
- Pondera
Pondera County
$1,144 1BR FMR / mo
- Yellowstone
Yellowstone County
$1,109 1BR FMR / mo
- Cascade
Cascade County
$979 1BR FMR / mo
What this shows Pondera 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), Pondera County (this county) ($1,144), Yellowstone County ($1,109), Cascade County ($979).
Can Common Jobs Afford Rent Here?
Against a high local FMR of $1,144/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 | 13.7% | Affordable |
| General & Operations Managers | $85,240 | 16.1% | Affordable |
| Registered Nurses | $81,560 | 16.8% | Affordable |
| Accountants & Auditors | $74,400 | 18.5% | Affordable |
| Police & Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $69,910 | 19.6% | Affordable |
| Electricians | $68,980 | 19.9% | Affordable |
| Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $59,060 | 23.2% | Affordable |
| Elementary School Teachers | $56,200 | 24.4% | Affordable |
| Paralegals & Legal Assistants | $54,230 | 25.3% | Affordable |
| Pharmacy Technicians | $46,980 | 29.2% | Affordable |
| Customer Service Representatives | $43,820 | 31.3% | Stretched |
| Janitors & Cleaners | $37,390 | 36.7% | Stretched |
| Retail Salespersons | $35,000 | 39.2% | Stretched |
| Teaching Assistants | $33,720 | 40.7% | Stretched |
| Fast Food & Counter Workers | $29,280 | 46.9% | Stretched |
Rent Trends (2020–2026)
7-year Fair Market Rent history for Pondera County. Shows how HUD rental rates have changed over time.
Over the 6-year span HUD has tracked for Pondera (FY 2020-2026), the 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent has risen 89.7% overall, from $603 to $1,144. Most of that movement was gradual except for a single sharp jump of +22.4% in FY 2026, well above this county's typical year-to-year change.
| Year | Studio | 1 BR | 2 BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2026 ↑22.4% | $940 | $1,144 | $1,254 |
| FY 2025 ↑16.0% | $759 | $935 | $1,035 |
| FY 2024 ↑10.3% | $658 | $806 | $905 |
| FY 2023 ↑10.1% | $596 | $731 | $826 |
| FY 2022 ↑4.4% | $535 | $664 | $757 |
| FY 2021 ↑5.5% | $514 | $636 | $734 |
| FY 2020 | $492 | $603 | $714 |
Where Pondera County Ranks in Montana
Pondera 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 #23 of 56 counties in Montana. Nearest by rank: 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), Pondera County (this county) ($1,254), Stillwater County ($1,257), Glacier County ($1,275), Cascade County ($1,284), Big Horn County ($1,302), Chouteau County ($1,307), Hill County ($1,307), Richland County ($1,312).
Nationwide peers by 2BR FMR & rent burden
Two PlainRent-derived comparison paths for Pondera 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 Pondera County?
The FY 2026 Fair Market Rent for a 1-bedroom in Pondera County is $1,144 per month. A 2-bedroom is $1,254 and a studio is $940.
How does Pondera County rent compare to the national average?
Rent in Pondera County is 19% above the national average. A 1-bedroom here costs $1,144 compared to $959 nationally.
Where does Pondera County rank nationally for Fair Market Rent?
According to HUD's FY 2026 Fair Market Rent schedule, Pondera County's 2-bedroom FMR of $1,254 ranks #881 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 Pondera County?
Based on the 30% affordability rule, you need an annual income of at least $45,760 ($3,813/month) to afford a 1-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Pondera County.
Is rent going up or down in Pondera County?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pondera County increased by 22.4% from FY 2025 to FY 2026, going from $935 to $1,144.
Which jobs can afford rent in Pondera 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 $1,144/mo. 10 of 15 common occupations are affordable here.
How much has rent changed in Pondera County over time?
The 1-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Pondera County went from $603 in FY 2020 to $1,144 in FY 2026, a total change of +89.7% over 6 years.
How does Fair Market Rent affect Section 8 vouchers in Pondera County?
In Pondera County, the FY 2026 FMR of $1,144/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 Pondera County?
For Pondera County, it's the specific 40th-percentile rent HUD publishes each year ($1,144/mo for a 1-bedroom in FY 2026).
Is the rental market tight or loose in Pondera County?
The ACS rental vacancy rate here is 6.6%, close to the range where market rents and HUD's FMR benchmark tend to track each other.
What is the unemployment rate in Pondera County?
The county's BLS unemployment rate has averaged 3.7% over the past 12 months, close to the typical US county range.
Data sources
What this means for renters
Treat Pondera's FY2026 Fair Market Rent as HUD's affordability benchmark, not a single market quote.
- Budget to roughly 30% of income: the FY2026 1-bedroom FMR of $1,144 implies about $45,760/yr to rent without being cost-burdened. Run your numbers
- Montana counties vary widely around this figure - compare specific counties before assuming this applies to yours. Compare vs Yellowstone
- See where Pondera ranks nationally on rent. National rankings
Fair Market Rent is HUD's 40th-percentile policy benchmark used to set Housing Choice Voucher payment standards. Actual asking rents can run higher or lower, and HUD updates FMRs once a year. This site is informational and not financial or relocation advice.
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.