How much does it cost to rent in Laurel, MT?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Laurel, MT is $1,286. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Laurel cheaper than other Montana cities?

Laurel is among the more affordable cities in Montana, ranking #11 out of 11 cities at $1,286/mo.

When was Laurel rent data last updated?

Laurel rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MT

Laurel

Name: Average Rent Prices in Laurel, MT
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 7,215·11th most expensive in Montana·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,286/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+5.8%

vs US Median

-$679

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Laurel · $1,286

More affordable than 88% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

23% of income

VERY AFFORDABLE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,286/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$51,000/yr

Local median income

$68,474/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Laurel's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,000

1 BR

$1,040

2 BR

$1,350

3 BR

$1,860

4 BR+

$2,090

Research median

$1,350/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$15,432/yr

At $1,286/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +5.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Laurel, MT is majority owner-occupied, 20.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

7,215

Median income

$68,474

Median age

37.1

Renters

41.3%

Age distribution

23.4%

22%

26.4%

13.7%

14.5%

Under 1823.4%

18–3422%

35–5426.4%

55–6413.7%

65+14.5%

Gender

50.5%

49.5%

Male50.5%

Female49.5%

Race & ethnicity

86.8%

White86.8%

Hispanic8.2%

Asian2.1%

Other2.5%

Education (25+)

37.6%

36.9%

20.8%

No HS diploma4.7%

HS diploma37.6%

Some college36.9%

Bachelor's+20.8%

Housing tenure

58.7%

41.3%

Owner58.7%

Renter41.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Laurel, MT has changed in 5 years

Income

$59,444 → $68,474

up 15.2%

Population

7,164 → 7,215

up 0.7%

Renter share

33.4% → 41.3%

+7.9 pts

Bachelor's+

19.1% → 20.8%

+1.7 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $59,444 in 2021 to $68,474 more recently. Renters now make up 41.3% of households, compared with 33.4% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Laurel

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View Laurel rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Laurel on your salary?

At $1,286/mo, how Laurel rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $83,142/yr · Rent = 18.6% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $59,030/yr · Rent = 26.1% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $67,998/yr · Rent = 22.7% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $121,537/yr · Rent = 12.7% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $155,294/yr · Rent = 9.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $55,273/yr · Rent = 27.9% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $49,905/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $61,512/yr · Rent = 25.1% income

affordable

By apartment size

Laurel rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Laurel. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Laurel

About renting in Laurel, MT

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Laurel is $1,286/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,350/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,860/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($68,474/yr), Laurel ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Laurel an affordable city for renters?

Laurel is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,286/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($68,474/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Laurel falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Laurel?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,286/mo in Laurel. The local median household income is $68,474/yr, meaning the typical Laurel household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Laurel?

Rent in Laurel has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Laurel rent compare to other cities in Montana?

Laurel is one of the more affordable cities in Montana for rent, ranking #11 out of 11 tracked cities at $1,286/mo.

What percentage of Laurel residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 41.3% of Laurel households are renters, while 58.7% are owner-occupied. Laurel leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.