Montana · FIPS 30021 · HUD FY 2027
Dawson County, Montana Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Dawson County is $1,257 a month (rent plus utilities), 18% below the Montana average of $1,529 and 29% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is up $3 (0.2%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $50,280 a year to afford it.
- $1,2572-bedroom FMR+$3 (+0.2%) vs FY 2026
- $9611-bedroom FMRMontana: $1,223 · U.S.: $1,478
- $50,280Income for a 2-bedroom$24/hour full-time
- 34 of 562BR rank in Montana1 = highest rent
| Unit | Dawson County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Montana avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $961 | $940 | +$21 (+2.2%) | $1,114 | $1,379 | $38,440 |
| 1 bedroom | $961 | $956 | +$5 (+0.5%) | $1,223 | $1,478 | $38,440 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,257 | $1,254 | +$3 (+0.2%) | $1,529 | $1,761 | $50,280 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,587 | $1,504 | +$83 (+5.5%) | $2,086 | $2,266 | $63,480 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,065 | $1,942 | +$123 (+6.3%) | $2,430 | $2,607 | $82,600 |
How Dawson County compares
- Dawson County is a non-metro county, so HUD sets one Fair Market Rent for the whole county.
- Across Montana, 2-bedroom FMRs run from $1,014 (Phillips County) to $2,109 (Gallatin County).
- Studio to 4-bedroom: $961, $961, $1,257, $1,587, $2,065. HUD derives the other sizes from the 2-bedroom figure with fixed ratios, adjusted where local data warrant.
- HUD also publishes ZIP-level Small Area FMRs. For the 4 ZIP codes mostly in Dawson County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,190 to $1,540.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Dawson County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59259 | $1,260 | $1,280 | $1,540 | $1,910 | $2,550 | −$20 (−1.3%) | 23% above |
| 59315 | $950 | $960 | $1,190 | $1,480 | $1,960 | −$10 (−0.8%) | 5% below |
| 59330 | $1,050 | $1,090 | $1,400 | $1,930 | $2,260 | +$50 (+3.7%) | 11% above |
| 59339 | $1,050 | $1,090 | $1,400 | $1,930 | $2,260 | +$50 (+3.7%) | 11% above |
Sources
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD User Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 FMRs (file dated August 26, 2026) and FY 2026 FMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- HUD User Small Area Fair Market Rents: FY 2027 SAFMRs (file dated August 31, 2026) and FY 2026 SAFMRs (file dated April 21, 2026).
- ZIP-to-county assignment: Census Bureau 2020 ZCTA-to-county relationship file (file dated December 9, 2021), largest land-area overlap.
Fair Market Rents are HUD’s estimate of gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a modest unit, set at the 40th percentile of recent-mover rents. FY 2027 is HUD’s fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026. Housing authorities set voucher payment standards from these figures; check yours.