Housing decision brief
Fergus County, MT Housing Market
Fergus County screens as a below-state purchase price, rent that needs comparison, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
24th lowest home value out of 56 Montana counties with data | 37th lowest rent out of 56
Median home value
$202,700
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$868/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$710/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
3.4x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
23.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$158/mo
Median owner cost screens below median rent.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower purchase price
$202,700 median home value is 6% below Montana county median
Rent burden below pressure line
23.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Owning screens cheaper than renting
Median owner costs are $158/mo below median rent before individual mortgage terms.
What to Check
Lower income base
$59,731 median income is 3% below Montana county median
Water quality cross-check
Water quality grade is F. Review water data before treating housing cost as the full story.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Households weighing ownership against renting
- Remote earners or cash buyers looking below the state price line
Poor Fit For
- Households dependent on a deep local wage market
- Buyers who will not investigate local water systems before moving
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Fergus County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $202,700 | $214,750 | $281,900 | 6% favorable6% below Montana county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $868 | $801 | $1,163 | 8% pressure8% above Montana county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $710 | $777 | $1,672 | 9% favorable9% below Montana county median |
Median household income | $59,731 | $61,858 | $74,755 | Near state median3% below Montana county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.84% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 16% favorable16% below Montana county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 23.00% | 24.00% | N/A | Near state median23.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$25,011
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$29,302
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Fergus County offers affordable rental housing at a median of $868/month , about 17.4% of the typical household income here.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Fergus County is $868/month, while owner costs run $710/month. Owning saves approximately $158/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $34,720/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $30,429/year. With a median household income of $59,731, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 23.0% of renter households in Fergus County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Lincoln County where rent averages $810/month, Fergus County is approximately 7% more expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Musselshell County, MT | $221,200 | $865/mo | Same-state comparison near $221,200 home value and $865/mo rent. |
| Custer County, MT | $204,200 | $918/mo | Same-state comparison near $204,200 home value and $918/mo rent. |
| Golden Valley County, MT | $203,900 | $769/mo | Same-state comparison near $203,900 home value and $769/mo rent. |
| Silver Bow County, MT | $223,500 | $810/mo | Same-state comparison near $223,500 home value and $810/mo rent. |
| Valley County, MT | $198,600 | $769/mo | Same-state comparison near $198,600 home value and $769/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Fergus County
Is Fergus County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Fergus County?
How much income do you need for housing in Fergus County?
What should I double-check before moving to Fergus County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.