Carter County, MT at a glance
Median household income
$54,167$4,514 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Carter County, MT?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Carter County, MT? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Carter County, MT, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $932 | $11,184 | $37,280 | 20.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,002 | $12,024 | $40,080 | 22.2% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,244 | $14,928 | $49,760 | 27.6% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,492 | $17,904 | $59,680 | 33.1% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $2,011 | $24,132 | $80,440 | 44.6% |
What a typical income covers in Carter County, MT
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $54,167 a year ($4,514 a month before tax).
What $54,167 leaves after Montana taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Montana tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Montana
Living in Carter County, MT: common questions
What is the median household income in Carter County, MT?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Carter County, MT is $54,167 per year (approximately $4,514 per month).
What is the average rent in Carter County, MT?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $932 for a studio, $1,002 for one bedroom, $1,244 for two, $1,492 for three and $2,011 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Carter County, MT expensive to live in?
Prices there run 5.4% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Montana is 94.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Carter County, MT?
To keep a $1,244 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $49,760 a year, or $4,147 a month. That is 92% of what the typical household in Carter County, MT earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Carter County, MT?
On the local median income of $54,167 ($4,514 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,257 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,354 for everything else and $903 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,244 takes 55% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Carter County, MT?
Homes in Montana paid 15.1¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $136. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.