MBPC: 45% of Jefferson County Renters Cost-Burdened
- May 20
- 2 min read
The Montana Budget & Policy Center (MBPC) released an interactive map that provides county-level data on Montana residents' ability to afford rental housing.
"Housing is an essential factor in whether or not Montanans have the resources they need to live healthy lives and whether neighborhoods prosper or fall behind," said Aubrey Godbey, housing policy analyst for Montana Budget & Policy Center. "However, 30 percent of Jefferson County renters are facing rental costs they cannot afford."
Jefferson County-specific data:
• Sixteen percent of residents rent their homes, or 790 households;
• Thirty percent of Jefferson County renters are cost-burdened by rent prices; and
• Someone working a minimum-wage job in Jefferson County must work 100 hours each week to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
Rising housing costs place a heavier burden on renters, who tend to earn less than homeowners. In Jefferson County, the renter median income is $58,578, while the homeowner median income is $105,400 annually. Median income is the midpoint of a specific area's income distribution, in this case, Jefferson County.
"We hope this data will help community members, advocates, and policymakers consider policy solutions that can support renters and increase the supply and availability of affordable and attainable housing for Montanans," said Godbey.
Statewide numbers include:
• Renter households: 141,459;
• Households that rent: 31%;
• Renters with cost burden: 45%; and
• Median income for renter households: $48,192.
The full housing profile for Jefferson County can be found at https://www.montanabudget.org/interactive-housing-map.
Montana Budget & Policy Center is a nonprofit organization providing in-depth research and analysis on budget, tax, and economic issues. MBPC's focus is publishing credible, timely, and easy-to-understand reports on the fiscal policies that most affect Montanans living on low and moderate incomes. To learn more about MBPC, visit our website http://www.montanabudget.org.
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