Dawson County, MT at a glance
Median household income
$71,334$5,945 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Dawson 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 Dawson County, MT? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Dawson 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 | $940 | $11,280 | $37,600 | 15.8% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $956 | $11,472 | $38,240 | 16.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,254 | $15,048 | $50,160 | 21.1% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,504 | $18,048 | $60,160 | 25.3% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,942 | $23,304 | $77,680 | 32.7% |
What a typical income covers in Dawson County, MT
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $71,334 a year ($5,945 a month before tax).
What $71,334 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 Dawson County, MT: common questions
What is the median household income in Dawson County, MT?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Dawson County, MT is $71,334 per year (approximately $5,945 per month).
What is the average rent in Dawson County, MT?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $940 for a studio, $956 for one bedroom, $1,254 for two, $1,504 for three and $1,942 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 Dawson 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 Dawson County, MT?
To keep a $1,254 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $50,160 a year, or $4,180 a month. That is 70% of what the typical household in Dawson County, MT earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Dawson County, MT?
On the local median income of $71,334 ($5,945 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,972 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,783 for everything else and $1,189 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,254 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Dawson 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.