Montana · FIPS 30029 · HUD FY 2027
Flathead County, Montana Fair Market Rent
HUD’s FY 2027 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Flathead County is $1,682 a month (rent plus utilities), 10% above the Montana average of $1,529 and 4% below the U.S. average of $1,761. That is down $9 (0.5%) from FY 2026. At 30% of income, a household needs about $67,280 a year to afford it.
- $1,6822-bedroom FMR−$9 (−0.5%) vs FY 2026
- $1,2861-bedroom FMRMontana: $1,223 · U.S.: $1,478
- $67,280Income for a 2-bedroom$32/hour full-time
- 4 of 562BR rank in Montana1 = highest rent
| Unit | Flathead County FY 2027 | FY 2026 | Change | Montana avg | U.S. avg | Income needed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,277 | $1,267 | +$10 (+0.8%) | $1,114 | $1,379 | $51,080 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,286 | $1,289 | −$3 (−0.2%) | $1,223 | $1,478 | $51,440 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,682 | $1,691 | −$9 (−0.5%) | $1,529 | $1,761 | $67,280 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,263 | $2,224 | +$39 (+1.8%) | $2,086 | $2,266 | $90,520 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,626 | $2,837 | −$211 (−7.4%) | $2,430 | $2,607 | $105,040 |
How Flathead County compares
- Flathead 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: $1,277, $1,286, $1,682, $2,263, $2,626. 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 14 ZIP codes mostly in Flathead County (by land area), the 2-bedroom figure ranges from $1,530 to $2,060.
Small Area FMRs by ZIP code in Flathead County
| ZIP | Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR | 4BR | 2BR vs FY 2026 | 2BR vs area FMR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 59901 | $1,250 | $1,260 | $1,650 | $2,220 | $2,580 | +$20 (+1.2%) | 2% below |
| 59912 | $1,200 | $1,210 | $1,580 | $2,130 | $2,560 | −$20 (−1.2%) | 6% below |
| 59913 | $1,280 | $1,280 | $1,680 | $2,260 | $2,620 | +$200 (+13.5%) | about the same as |
| 59916 | $1,150 | $1,170 | $1,530 | $2,010 | $2,560 | +$50 (+3.4%) | 9% below |
| 59919 | $1,280 | $1,280 | $1,680 | $2,260 | $2,790 | −$170 (−9.2%) | about the same as |
| 59920 | $1,160 | $1,180 | $1,540 | $2,060 | $2,560 | +$30 (+2.0%) | 8% below |
| 59922 | $1,300 | $1,300 | $1,710 | $2,280 | $2,630 | −$40 (−2.3%) | 2% above |
| 59925 | $1,150 | $1,170 | $1,530 | $2,030 | $2,560 | +$50 (+3.4%) | 9% below |
| 59926 | $1,280 | $1,280 | $1,680 | $2,260 | $2,790 | −$170 (−9.2%) | about the same as |
| 59927 | $1,390 | $1,410 | $1,770 | $2,400 | $2,800 | +$60 (+3.5%) | 5% above |
| 59928 | $1,150 | $1,170 | $1,530 | $2,010 | $2,560 | +$50 (+3.4%) | 9% below |
| 59932 | $1,280 | $1,280 | $1,680 | $2,260 | $2,620 | −$50 (−2.9%) | about the same as |
| 59936 | $1,150 | $1,170 | $1,530 | $2,010 | $2,560 | +$50 (+3.4%) | 9% below |
| 59937 | $1,560 | $1,570 | $2,060 | $2,770 | $3,220 | +$70 (+3.5%) | 22% 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.