Average Rent in Montana

Rental market overview for Montana, powered by HUD and Census data.

Median Rent

$826

Median Income

$61,491

Rent Burden

27.7%

Avg FMR (2BR)

N/A

Affordability

Montana: 27.7% rent burden, near the 30% affordability threshold.

<25% 25 to 30%>30%

Affordability Map: Income vs Rent in Montana

Each dot is a city, sized by population. The diagonal line is the 30% rent to income threshold. Cities above the line tend to be unaffordable for median earners.

Cities in Montana by median income and median rent
City	Median income	Median rent	Rent burden
Billings	$69,692	$1,064	28.8%
Missoula	$59,783	$1,064	29.9%
Great Falls	$58,272	$828	28.6%
Bozeman	$74,113	$1,447	30.6%
Butte-Silver Bow (balance)	$56,522	$786	28.4%
Helena	$64,798	$969	26.3%
Kalispell	$57,123	$952	33.0%
Belgrade	$82,769	$1,206	24.5%
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County	$46,436	$650	30.6%
Helena Valley Southeast	$68,512	$1,213	38.7%
Havre	$63,143	$815	28.2%
Evergreen	$68,039	$1,160	24.0%
Livingston	$62,893	$933	29.7%
Miles City	$59,578	$899	24.8%
Helena Valley West Central	$84,846	$1,223	24.0%
Whitefish	$69,919	$1,254	32.0%
Lockwood	$73,625	$1,062	28.5%
Laurel	$62,250	$907	26.3%
Sidney	$56,696	$836	24.8%
Lewistown	$40,705	$818	25.0%
Four Corners	$107,448	$1,148	16.8%
Columbia Falls	$64,500	$949	32.8%
Orchard Homes	$78,108	$944	24.2%
Polson	$48,866	$877	30.1%
Helena Valley Northwest	$99,247	$1,613	16.8%
Bigfork	$73,443	$1,256	30.3%
Glendive	$65,663	$798	24.8%
Hamilton	$45,973	$816	27.7%
Lolo	$69,035	$884	26.6%
Malmstrom AFB	$62,684	$1,171	22.5%
Helena Valley Northeast	$137,500	$1,550	14.0%
Dillon	$42,037	$919	40.3%
Hardin	$57,266	$731	22.6%
Glasgow	$65,850	$704	23.8%
Cut Bank	$41,759	$819	28.2%
Shelby	$51,667	$720	25.1%
Deer Lodge	$52,813	$768	24.9%
North Browning	$38,462	$548	19.4%
Libby	$36,373	$614	28.5%
Big Sky	$94,176	$1,570	28.5%
Lakeside	$71,006	$1,130	35.3%
Colstrip	$87,321	$638	12.3%
Red Lodge	$39,472	$886	34.1%
Townsend	$65,522	$862	22.6%
Malta	$60,735	$549	23.6%
East Missoula	$58,991	$1,108	27.1%
Lame Deer	$31,250	$572	18.3%
Stevensville	$39,836	$886	29.5%
King Arthur Park	$101,281	$1,832	36.7%
Manhattan	$57,045	$1,689	38.9%
Crow Agency	$32,721	$725	22.7%
Columbus	$59,150	$812	35.0%
West Glendive	$66,725	$808	20.0%
Three Forks	$77,674	$1,263	23.2%
Ronan	$36,310	$733	35.8%
East Helena	$54,485	$982	43.1%
Roundup	$54,167	$1,051	20.5%
Pablo	$35,395	$665	23.7%
Eureka	$54,531	$861	38.3%
Plentywood	$66,607	$758	31.5%
Choteau	$54,679	$883	32.6%
Big Timber	$60,842	$726	20.0%
Thompson Falls	$43,125	$619	26.0%
South Browning	$26,101	$436	24.3%
Helena West Side	$71,141	$1,603	38.9%
Seeley Lake	$42,254	$986	31.5%
Frenchtown	$86,184	$1,542	26.8%
Fort Benton	$67,656	$690	31.4%
Baker	$96,667	$726	19.8%
Chinook	$47,067	$542	18.4%
Fort Belknap Agency	$29,766	$456	32.6%
Forsyth	$56,397	$742	31.1%
Corvallis	$62,034	$895	33.3%
Bonner-West Riverside	$58,673	$1,002	23.8%
Boulder	$54,609	$720	16.5%
Plains	$25,313	$775	46.3%
West Yellowstone	$48,750	$817	22.8%
Whitehall	$41,477	$813	27.8%
White Sulphur Springs	$55,775	$743	23.1%
Hays	$49,423	$496	12.8%
Churchill	$90,250	$1,169	39.2%
Wye	$93,264	$1,734	20.2%
Florence	$74,615	$690	31.7%
Somers	$54,466	$1,138	23.3%
Park City	$61,875	$1,019	26.4%
St. Ignatius	$46,250	$732	22.2%
Pray	$104,512	$1,071	14.1%
Harlem	$61,818	$756	19.7%
Lincoln	$42,900	$740	13.6%
Harlowton	$55,536	$700	11.5%
Fairview	$79,500	$567	13.3%
Vaughn	$45,000	$846	31.9%
Rocky Boy West	$25,833	$340	16.4%
Philipsburg	$32,353	$1,073	31.3%
Pinesdale	$78,036	$1,284	23.9%
Hungry Horse	$38,750	$797	14.8%
Gallatin Gateway	$98,750	$986	26.8%
Victor	$38,427	$901	31.8%
Troy	$32,784	$523	40.5%
Superior	$42,632	$689	31.9%
Browning	$41,250	$566	23.4%
Absarokee	$56,786	$852	14.9%
Sheridan	$80,444	$725	19.8%
Havre North	$37,250	$774	24.3%
Scobey	$44,583	$528	19.4%
Ashland	$39,000	$575	13.6%
Chester	$52,750	$662	38.5%
Trego	$59,375	$867	24.4%
Fairfield	$64,922	$888	32.2%
Poplar	$44,712	$600	16.1%
Clinton	$84,792	$1,125	18.5%
Gardiner	$52,455	$782	23.5%
Woods Bay	$98,661	$1,167	12.7%
Ennis	$59,500	$816	28.3%
White Haven	$33,641	$533	23.3%
Pioneer Junction	$46,806	$598	51.0%
Arlee	$37,109	$654	22.9%
Batavia	$41,722	$1,031	37.6%
Culbertson	$91,250	$681	19.2%
Walkerville	$39,417	$898	31.3%
Muddy	$38,750	$435	17.5%
Piltzville	$94,851	$1,365	18.9%
Joliet	$71,250	$472	14.6%
Wibaux	$61,042	$850	14.2%
Pryor	$50,833	$2,000	17.0%
Hot Springs	$21,806	$588	44.2%
Darby	$39,583	$897	32.3%
Valier	$45,625	$727	43.1%
Cascade	$46,500	$894	28.2%
Heart Butte	$28,750	$473	18.9%
Alberton	$59,167	$863	36.7%
Belt	$65,500	$763	27.5%
Evaro	$61,094	$1,156	21.9%
Sangrey	$50,536	$475	16.3%
Circle	$79,750	$475	9.0%
Busby	$44,712	$565	12.9%
Finley Point	$34,861	$782	43.4%
Lodge Grass	$44,167	$656	11.9%
Riverbend	$67,500	$1,056	21.7%
St. Pierre	$34,500	$388	13.8%
Broadus	$51,125	$591	16.7%
Fromberg	$57,614	$1,000	44.0%
Sunburst	$78,750	$791	14.2%
Rudyard	$69,750	$629	13.2%
Ekalaka	$28,750	$633	28.9%
Frazer	$34,375	$433	17.5%
Charlo	$39,167	$836	36.7%
Jordan	$44,250	$636	19.8%
Clyde Park	$56,964	$936	21.1%
Emigrant	$43,158	$763	27.8%
St. Regis	$49,875	$847	24.9%
Nashua	$53,750	$583	14.3%
Martin City	$56,473	$673	12.3%
Condon	$53,125	$1,625	47.5%
Froid	$68,500	$475	10.0%
Savage	$78,750	$654	11.7%
Dixon	$39,306	$679	24.2%
Roberts	$76,688	$1,113	17.1%
Dutton	$50,313	$745	31.1%
Wyola	$25,179	$438	28.0%
East Glacier Park Village	$36,250	$810	19.2%
Moore	$44,271	$747	20.2%
Geraldine	$34,688	$542	18.5%
Denton	$66,250	$850	15.0%
Ryegate	$45,000	$700	22.5%
Richey	$67,813	$407	9.0%
Lodge Pole	$33,000	$440	12.5%
Hinsdale	$43,250	$536	35.9%
Twin Bridges	$53,500	$964	41.9%
Hysham	$43,906	$950	42.8%
Stanford	$46,250	$433	51.0%
Sand Coulee	$74,091	$793	23.8%
Elliston	$42,000	$813	24.6%
Augusta	$41,118	$769	9.0%
Westby	$40,625	$567	12.5%
Pine Creek	$77,750	$967	21.1%
Willow Creek	$62,188	$865	16.5%
Medicine Lake	$41,875	$781	27.5%
Wilsall	$62,500	$1,100	25.0%
Rocky Boy's Agency	$56,105	$172	10.9%
Springhill	$79,500	$967	35.0%
Power	$70,375	$485	N/A
Winifred	$68,750	$554	10.4%
Highwood	$50,750	$1,361	51.0%
Winnett	$43,750	$582	26.8%
West Glacier	$68,281	$788	17.1%
Fox Lake	$127,557	$775	11.0%
Hobson	$33,542	$588	28.3%
Avon	$64,306	$920	9.0%
Roy	$42,917	$538	30.0%
Saco	$48,000	$763	21.7%
Corwin Springs	$45,114	$224	9.0%
Bainville	$58,125	$747	18.8%
Stockett	$38,472	$1,089	28.8%
Custer	$63,750	$563	12.1%
Lonepine	$62,500	$817	39.2%
Judith Gap	$31,042	$608	14.2%
Garrison	$43,750	$475	50.0%
Lavina	$59,583	$713	13.4%
Bearcreek	$114,375	$870	12.5%
Wisdom	$56,534	$775	32.5%
Whitewater	$34,038	$285	9.0%
Cooke City	$41,250	$1,156	37.0%
Geyser	$38,750	$380	12.5%
Turner	$64,375	$419	9.0%

How Montana Compares to the National Average

Median Rent

$826▼ 39.5%

Rent Burden

27.7%▼ 8.6%

Vacancy Rate

20.7%▲ 140.6%

Montana Rental Market Overview

Montana has approximately 493 cities with rental data tracked by StayRentals. Roughly 26.3% of housing units in the state are renter-occupied. The state's median rent is approximately $826, which is 40% lower than the national median of $1,365. (Source: Census ACS)

The average Montana renter spends approximately 27.7% of their income on rent, compared to the national average of approximately 30.3%. This suggests the state is generally in line with or more affordable than national averages. (Source: Census ACS)

With a rental vacancy rate of approximately 20.7%, the Montana rental market may offer renters more options and negotiating power. (Source: Census ACS)

Rent Burden Distribution Across Montana Cities

29% of cities in Montana have a rent burden at or above 30% of household income.

City count by rent burden bracket for Montana
Burden bracket	Number of cities
Under 25%	124
25 to 30%	36
30 to 35%	28
35% and up	36

Most and Least Affordable Cities

Most Affordable Cities

Most Expensive Cities

Most affordable cities (lowest rent burden):

Colstrip: median rent of $638, median income of $87,321, resulting in a rent burden of approximately 12.3%. (Source: Census ACS)

Helena Valley Northeast: median rent of $1,550, median income of $137,500, resulting in a rent burden of approximately 14.0%. (Source: Census ACS)

Four Corners: median rent of $1,148, median income of $107,448, resulting in a rent burden of approximately 16.8%. (Source: Census ACS)

Helena Valley Northwest: median rent of $1,613, median income of $99,247, resulting in a rent burden of approximately 16.8%. (Source: Census ACS)

Lame Deer: median rent of $572, median income of $31,250, resulting in a rent burden of approximately 18.3%. (Source: Census ACS)

Most expensive cities (highest rent burden):

Dillon: median rent of $919, with a rent burden of approximately 40.3%. Lower incomes relative to rent contribute to higher cost burden. (Source: Census ACS)

Helena Valley Southeast: median rent of $1,213, with a rent burden of approximately 38.7%. Lower incomes relative to rent contribute to higher cost burden. (Source: Census ACS)

King Arthur Park: median rent of $1,832, with a rent burden of approximately 36.7%. Lower incomes relative to rent contribute to higher cost burden. (Source: Census ACS)

Lakeside: median rent of $1,130, with a rent burden of approximately 35.3%. Lower incomes relative to rent contribute to higher cost burden. (Source: Census ACS)

Red Lodge: median rent of $886, with a rent burden of approximately 34.1%. Lower incomes relative to rent contribute to higher cost burden. (Source: Census ACS)

HUD Fair Market Rent by Bedroom

HUD Fair Market Rent data is reported at the county level for this state. See city pages for local FMR data.

Population vs Median Rent in Montana

In Montana, larger cities tend to have higher rents than smaller towns.

Renting in Montana: What to Know

Renter protections and landlord-tenant laws vary by state and municipality within Montana. Most states require landlords to provide advance notice before raising rent on month-to-month leases, though the specific notice period varies. Some municipalities within Montana may have additional local tenant protections.

Housing laws change frequently. For advice specific to your situation, consult a local tenant rights organization, legal aid society, or attorney. StayRentals does not provide legal advice.

Montana Rental Market Trends

Rent trends for Montana are tracked through the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for shelter costs. Nationally, rent costs have generally increased over the past decade, though the rate of increase varies by metro area and time period.

Detailed monthly rent CPI data is available for major metropolitan areas. Visit our homepage for the national rent CPI trend chart, or explore individual city pages for local context. (Source: BLS Consumer Price Index)

Cities in Montana

493 cities with rental data, sorted by population.

Showing top 50 of 493 by population

City	Population	Median Rent	Rent Burden	FMR (2BR)
Billings	117,093	$1,064	28.8%	N/A
Missoula	74,627	$1,064	29.9%	N/A
Great Falls	60,373	$828	28.6%	N/A
Bozeman	53,500	$1,447	30.6%	N/A
Butte-Silver Bow (balance)	34,638	$786	28.4%	N/A
Helena	32,529	$969	26.3%	N/A
Kalispell	25,473	$952	33.0%	N/A
Belgrade	10,941	$1,206	24.5%	N/A
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County	9,435	$650	30.6%	N/A
Helena Valley Southeast	9,374	$1,213	38.7%	N/A
Havre	9,332	$815	28.2%	N/A
Evergreen	8,514	$1,160	24.0%	N/A
Livingston	8,489	$933	29.7%	N/A
Miles City	8,432	$899	24.8%	N/A
Helena Valley West Central	8,206	$1,223	24.0%	N/A
Whitefish	8,098	$1,254	32.0%	N/A
Lockwood	7,393	$1,062	28.5%	N/A
Laurel	7,181	$907	26.3%	N/A
Sidney	6,257	$836	24.8%	N/A
Lewistown	5,988	$818	25.0%	N/A
Four Corners	5,631	$1,148	16.8%	N/A
Columbia Falls	5,435	$949	32.8%	N/A
Orchard Homes	5,265	$944	24.2%	N/A
Polson	5,218	$877	30.1%	N/A
Helena Valley Northwest	5,143	$1,613	16.8%	N/A
Bigfork	4,953	$1,256	30.3%	N/A
Glendive	4,861	$798	24.8%	N/A
Hamilton	4,806	$816	27.7%	N/A
Lolo	4,573	$884	26.6%	N/A
Malmstrom AFB	4,281	$1,171	22.5%	N/A
Helena Valley Northeast	4,245	$1,550	14.0%	N/A
Dillon	3,958	$919	40.3%	N/A
Hardin	3,803	$731	22.6%	N/A
Glasgow	3,208	$704	23.8%	N/A
Cut Bank	3,061	$819	28.2%	N/A
Shelby	3,058	$720	25.1%	N/A
Deer Lodge	3,030	$768	24.9%	N/A
North Browning	3,001	$548	19.4%	N/A
Libby	2,857	$614	28.5%	N/A
Big Sky	2,825	$1,570	28.5%	N/A
Lakeside	2,564	$1,130	35.3%	N/A
Colstrip	2,327	$638	12.3%	N/A
Red Lodge	2,321	$886	34.1%	N/A
Townsend	2,176	$862	22.6%	N/A
Malta	2,121	$549	23.6%	N/A
East Missoula	2,105	$1,108	27.1%	N/A
Lame Deer	2,064	$572	18.3%	N/A
Stevensville	2,038	$886	29.5%	N/A
King Arthur Park	2,033	$1,832	36.7%	N/A
Manhattan	1,986	$1,689	38.9%	N/A

Data Sources

**Data Sources:**

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents

Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index for Rent of Primary Residence

Data is updated periodically. Census ACS data reflects 5-year estimates. HUD Fair Market Rents are updated annually. BLS rent CPI is updated monthly.

StayRentals is not a real estate agent, landlord, or property manager. This content is for educational and informational purposes only. Rent estimates are based on government data and may not reflect current market conditions. Housing laws vary by state and municipality. Consult a local tenant rights organization or attorney for advice specific to your situation.

Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Fair Market Rents, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index.

Data vintage: HUD FMR FY 2025, Census ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates, BLS CPI updated monthly. Government data may lag 1–2 years behind current market conditions.