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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Poplar, MT Housing Affordability Index

Poplar, Montana has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 164.2 (Highly Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 39th most affordable of 217 scored Montana cities, compared with 92.8 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $95,000 home with 20% down, the Montana average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $519, or 14% of the city’s $43,438 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Poplar is updated every night from live Montana mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Poplar MBR-HAI 164.2 Highly Affordable
Rank in Montana 39 of 217 1 = most affordable
Montana 92.8 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.26% Montana lenders
Median home value $95,000 U.S. Census Bureau

Poplar is 71.4 points above the Montana score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Montana index

View Poplar Mortgage Rates

See What You Can Afford in Poplar, Montana

Use this Poplar, Montana home affordability calculator to see how much house you can afford at today’s Montana average 30-year mortgage rate of 7.26%. A household earning the Poplar median income of $43,438, with no other debts and $19,000 down, can afford a home of about $119,805, compared with a median home value of $95,000. Buying the median priced home with 20% down takes a household income of about $31,900 once property tax and insurance are counted.

Poplar median (Census)
Car, student loan, card minimums
Under 20% adds PMI
Montana average, 30-year fixed
Poplar median bill (Census)
Estimate; use your quote
You can afford a home up to
$119,805
At or above the Poplar median home value of $95,000
Loan amount$100,805
Principal & interest$688/mo
Property tax$234/mo
Home insurance$50/mo
PMI$42/mo
Total monthly payment$1,014/mo
Compare Poplar Mortgage Rates

How much house can you afford in Poplar?

Most lenders use two limits. Your housing payment, including principal, interest, property tax, homeowners insurance and any PMI, should stay under about 28% of your gross monthly income, and all of your monthly debt payments together should stay under about 36%. The calculator takes whichever limit is lower, then works backward from that payment to the most expensive home it covers at the current rate.

In Poplar, property taxes run about 2.34% of a home’s value each year, based on the Census median tax bill, which counts against the same monthly budget as the mortgage. Each quarter point move in mortgage rates changes the price you can afford by roughly $1,757 for a median income household. A larger down payment, paying down other debts, or a lower rate from a local lender all raise your budget.

What It Takes to Buy in Poplar

$519/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$22,200
Income Needed
To keep principal and interest at 28% of income
$43,438
Median Household Income
Montana: $72,509
2.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Montana: 5.2x
$300/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$2,220/yr
Median Property Tax
Montana figure
29.5%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
17.3%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Poplar, Montana. The rate is the Montana average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Poplar Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Poplar, Montana score: 164.2 (Highly Affordable), ranked 39 of 217 Montana cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/montana/poplar”