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Stillwater County, MT

The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Stillwater County, MT is $1,257 per month, ranking #341 out of 693 areas nationwide. The area median household income is $81,503, meaning a household spending Fair Market Rent on a 2-bedroom would pay 18.5% of income on housing. Rent in Stillwater County has increased 22.9% year over year. The area has a population of 9.1K, with 19.2% of households renting.

18.5%
Affordable
of income → rent
$1,257
2BR Fair Market Rent
vs $1,250 national median
$81,503
Median Income
vs $71,049 national
$968
Actual Median Rent
Census ACS estimate
+22.9%
Year-over-Year
2BR FMR change
9.1K
Population
Census ACS
19.2%
Renters
of occupied housing
$355,600
Median Home Value
3.3%
Unemployment
BLS LAUS
16.9%
Vacancy Rate
of housing units
8.3%
Poverty Rate
below poverty line

Fair Market Rent by Bedroom Size

$884
Studio
$958
1 Bedroom
$1,257
2 Bedroom
$1,748
3 Bedroom
$2,109
4 Bedroom

Fair Market Rents (FMRs) are set annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality units in an area. FMRs are used to determine payment standards for the Housing Choice Voucher program and other federal housing assistance.

Housing Affordability

In Stillwater County, MT, a household earning the area median income of $81,503 would spend 18.5% of their gross income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This falls below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, meaning housing is relatively affordable for median-income households in this area.

Income Needed for 2BR
$50,280
annual (30% threshold)
Hourly Wage Needed
$24
full-time (2,080 hrs/yr)
Actual Median Rent
$968
$289 below FMR

5-Year Rent Trend

+47.2% since 2022
$8542022$9832023$1,0232024$1,2182025$1,2572026

2-bedroom Fair Market Rent by fiscal year. Source: HUD FMR API.

Minimum Wage Affordability

The minimum wage in Montana is $10.55/hr. A minimum-wage worker would need to work 91.7 hours per week to afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent without exceeding 30% of income on housing. This means a single minimum-wage earner cannot afford a 2-bedroom working a standard 40-hour week. The poverty rate in Stillwater County is 8.3%, below the national average of approximately 12.4%.

State Min Wage
$10.55/hr
Hours/Week Needed
91.7 hrs
Poverty Rate
8.3%

Housing Market Context

The median home value in Stillwater County is $355,600. At a median income of $81,503, this represents a price-to-income ratio of 4.4x. 16.9% of housing units in the area are vacant, which is above the national average and may indicate softer demand or seasonal housing. The local unemployment rate is 3.3%, below the national average, indicating a relatively strong local labor market.

Rent vs. Buy
$2,489 est. mortgage
vs $1,257 FMR rent
Vacancy Rate
16.9%
of housing units
Unemployment
3.3%
BLS, latest available

Other Areas in Montana

Bozeman
$2,154/mo
2BR FMR · 29.6% burden
Broadwater County
$1,748/mo
2BR FMR · 33% burden
Missoula
$1,655/mo
2BR FMR · 28% burden
Lewis and Clark County
$1,647/mo
2BR FMR · 26.5% burden
Billings
$1,417/mo
2BR FMR · 22.8% burden

Compare Stillwater County

vs Bozeman, MTvs Broadwater County, MTvs Missoula, MT

Areas With Similar Rent to Stillwater County

Frequently Asked Questions

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Stillwater County, MT is $1,257 per month. A studio is $884/mo, a 1-bedroom is $958/mo, and a 3-bedroom is $1,748/mo. The actual median gross rent from Census data is $968/mo.

Stillwater County has a rent burden of 18.5%, meaning a household earning the median income of $81,503 would spend 18.5% of income on a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent. This is below HUD's 30% cost-burden threshold, indicating relatively affordable housing. To afford a 2-bedroom without being cost-burdened, a household would need an annual income of at least $50,280.

Stillwater County's 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent of $1,257/mo is $7 above the national median of $1,250/mo. Stillwater County ranks #341 out of 693 areas for highest rent in the United States.

To afford a 2-bedroom at Fair Market Rent in Stillwater County without spending more than 30% of income on housing, you would need an annual household income of at least $50,280, or a full-time hourly wage of $24/hour. The area median income is $81,503.

The 2-bedroom Fair Market Rent in Stillwater County increased by 22.9% compared to the prior year. This is a significant increase, suggesting growing demand in the local housing market.

Fair Market Rents represent the 40th percentile of gross rents for standard-quality rental units. Rent burden is calculated as annual 2BR FMR divided by area median household income. Census data (income, home value, population, vacancy) is from the ACS 5-Year estimates. Unemployment rates are from BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics.