Best counties to live in Montana
More counties in the United States experienced population growth in the last year, according to the latest Census data, even as pandemic-related moving trends begin to normalize.
Counties in the South continued to experience growth, particularly in Florida, where 96% of its 67 counties gained new residents. Polk County, Florida, a suburb of Orlando, added the most, with 26,000 people moving there in 2023.
Meanwhile, counties in the Midwest and Northeast continued to lose population, but at slower rates than the year before. Some of the biggest losses were in counties home to large cities, including Cook County, Illinois (home of Chicago) and the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in New York.
Many counties are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or relatively affordable housing costs. Others are favored for their historic or well-designed downtowns or access to cultural opportunities.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Montana using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by various factors including public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
#24. Dawson County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,915
- Median household income: $68,168
- Median home value: $197,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $791 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln School (grade C), Dawson High School (grade C), Washington Middle School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Valley View Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Glendive (grade B minus), West Glendive (grade B minus), Richey (grade B minus)
#23. Ravalli County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 44,876
- Median household income: $67,424
- Median home value: $378,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $935 (23% rent)
- Top public schools: Lone Rock Elementary School (grade A minus), Quentin Brown Primary School (grade A minus), Corvallis Junior High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Hamilton Christian Academy (grade unavailable), Pines Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Hamilton (grade B minus), Pinesdale (grade C+), Florence (grade C+)
#22. Valley County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 7,552
- Median household income: $59,725
- Median home value: $183,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $675 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Lustre School (grade A), Glasgow High School (grade B), Glasgow Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Lustre Christian High School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Glasgow (grade B), Hinsdale (grade B minus), Nashua (grade C+)
#21. Blaine County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 7,030
- Median household income: $58,507
- Median home value: $119,400 (63% own)
- Median rent: $597 (37% rent)
- Top public schools: Chinook High School (grade B+), Turner Elementary School (grade B minus), Turner High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: White Clay Immersion School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Chinook (grade B minus), Harlem (grade C+), Hays (grade C)
#20. Stillwater County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,978
- Median household income: $78,380
- Median home value: $316,200 (84% own)
- Median rent: $855 (16% rent)
- Top public schools: Columbus Elementary School (grade B), Columbus Middle School (grade B), Rapelje High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Columbus (grade B minus), Reed Point (grade C+), Absarokee (grade C+)
#19. Pondera County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 5,987
- Median household income: $59,861
- Median home value: $172,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $785 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Valier Junior High School (grade A), Utterback Middle School (7-8) (grade B), Utterback Middle School (6) (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Conrad Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Conrad (grade B), Valier (grade B minus), Heart Butte (grade D)
#18. Flathead County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 105,950
- Median household income: $68,025
- Median home value: $414,200 (74% own)
- Median rent: $1,029 (26% rent)
- Top public schools: Deer Park Elementary School (grade A), West Glacier School (grade A), Creston School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Stillwater Christian School (grade B minus), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable), St. Matthew's School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Whitefish (grade A minus), Kalispell (grade B minus), Evergreen (grade B minus)
#17. Rosebud County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,310
- Median household income: $57,656
- Median home value: $159,900 (64% own)
- Median rent: $641 (36% rent)
- Top public schools: Forsyth Elementary School (grade A), Forsyth High School (grade B), Forsyth Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Labre Indian Catholic School (grade B minus)
- Top places: Colstrip (grade B+), Forsyth (grade B minus), Ashland (grade C minus)
#16. Toole County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 5,018
- Median household income: $54,040
- Median home value: $166,200 (65% own)
- Median rent: $741 (35% rent)
- Top public schools: Sunburst School (grade B+), Shelby High School (grade B+), Sunburst Elementary School (grade B+)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Shelby (grade B minus), Sunburst (grade B), Kevin (grade C+)
#15. Hill County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 16,238
- Median household income: $58,427
- Median home value: $183,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $729 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Lincoln-McKinley School (grade B), Havre Middle School (grade B), Box Elder High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: St. Jude Thaddeus School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Havre (grade B minus), Rudyard (grade B minus), Beaver Creek (grade C minus)
#14. Lake County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 31,509
- Median household income: $58,009
- Median home value: $337,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $851 (28% rent)
- Top public schools: Charlo Elementary School (grade A), Charlo Junior High School (grade A), St. Ignatius High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Mission Valley Christian Academy (grade B), Mountain Heights Mennonite School (grade unavailable), Nkwusm Salish Language School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Polson (grade C+), Woods Bay (grade B+), St. Ignatius (grade B minus)
#13. Madison County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 8,742
- Median household income: $61,226
- Median home value: $375,200 (78% own)
- Median rent: $1,101 (22% rent)
- Top public schools: Sheridan Junior High School (grade A minus), Ennis High School (grade A minus), Twin Bridges Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Ennis (grade B minus), Sheridan (grade B minus), Virginia City (grade B minus)
#12. Park County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 17,320
- Median household income: $67,602
- Median home value: $399,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $896 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Gardiner Elementary School (grade A), Shields Valley Junior High School (grade A minus), Gardiner Junior High School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable), Montessori Island School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Livingston (grade B), Gardiner (grade B+), Emigrant (grade C+)
#11. Silver Bow County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 35,306
- Median household income: $56,297
- Median home value: $195,800 (70% own)
- Median rent: $793 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Ramsay Junior High School (grade B), Hillcrest Elementary School (grade B), Butte High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Butte Central Catholic High School (grade B minus), Butte Central Catholic Grade School (grade unavailable), Silverbow Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Butte (grade B), Walkerville (grade C+)
#10. Teton County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 6,238
- Median household income: $65,224
- Median home value: $217,200 (76% own)
- Median rent: $890 (24% rent)
- Top public schools: Power Elementary School (grade A+), Greenfield Elementary School (grade A), Fairfield Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Fairfield Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Power (grade A minus), Fairfield (grade B+), Choteau (grade B minus)
#9. Jefferson County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 12,273
- Median household income: $73,875
- Median home value: $354,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $869 (17% rent)
- Top public schools: Cardwell School (grade A+), Montana City Middle School (grade A), Montana City Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Montana City (grade B), Clancy (grade B), Boulder (grade B)
#8. Fergus County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 11,496
- Median household income: $58,321
- Median home value: $175,800 (67% own)
- Median rent: $815 (33% rent)
- Top public schools: Lewis & Clark School (grade A minus), Lewistown Junior High School (grade A minus), Garfield School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Lewistown (grade B minus), Winifred (grade B minus), Denton (grade B minus)
#7. Yellowstone County, Montana
- Overall Rank: Not ranked
- Population: 165,524
- Median household income: $72,300
- Median home value: $289,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $1,055 (30% rent)
- Top public schools: Arrowhead School (grade A minus), Elysian Elementary School (grade A minus), Meadowlark School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Billings Central Catholic High School (grade A), Billings Christian Schools (grade B minus), Trinity Lutheran School (grade B+)
- Top places: Billings (grade B), Lockwood (grade B minus), Laurel (grade C+)
#6. Cascade County, Montana
- Overall Rank: 1,049
- Population: 84,423
- Median household income: $61,351
- Median home value: $227,600 (68% own)
- Median rent: $866 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Belt Elementary School (grade A), Belt Junior High School (grade A), Meadow Lark School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Great Falls Central Catholic High School (grade B+), Foothills Community Christian School (grade B+), Malmstrom Air Force Base Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Great Falls (grade B minus), Belt (grade B), Simms (grade B minus)
#5. Beaverhead County, Montana
- Overall Rank: 967
- Population: 9,469
- Median household income: $55,867
- Median home value: $278,300 (66% own)
- Median rent: $839 (34% rent)
- Top public schools: Dillon Middle School (grade A), Parkview School (grade A minus), Beaverhead County High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Dillon (grade B), Lima (grade C)
#4. Chouteau County, Montana
- Overall Rank: 928
- Population: 5,897
- Median household income: $51,791
- Median home value: $172,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $428 (32% rent)
- Top public schools: Fort Benton Elementary School (grade A), Fort Benton Junior High School (grade A), Highwood Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools:
- Top places: Fort Benton (grade A minus), Geraldine (grade B), Big Sandy (grade B minus)
#3. Lewis and Clark County, Montana
- Overall Rank: 575
- Population: 71,487
- Median household income: $71,967
- Median home value: $332,000 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,006 (29% rent)
- Top public schools: Augusta Elementary School (grade A), Jefferson Elementary School (grade A minus), C.R. Anderson Middle School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: St. Andrew School (grade B+), Helena Christian School (grade B minus), First Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Helena (grade B+), East Helena (grade B minus), Augusta (grade B minus)
#2. Missoula County, Montana
- Overall Rank: 509
- Population: 118,541
- Median household income: $66,840
- Median home value: $382,400 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,068 (41% rent)
- Top public schools: De Smet Junior High School (grade A), Hellgate Middle School (grade A minus), Rattlesnake Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Loyola Sacred Heart High School (grade B+), Valley Christian School (grade B minus), St. Joseph School (grade unavailable)
- Top places: Missoula (grade B), Orchard Homes (grade B), East Missoula (grade B minus)
#1. Gallatin County, Montana
- Overall Rank: 352
- Population: 119,685
- Median household income: $83,434
- Median home value: $526,700 (61% own)
- Median rent: $1,405 (39% rent)
- Top public schools: Anderson Elementary School (grade A+), Anderson Junior High School (grade A+), Monforton Junior High School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mount Ellis Academy (grade B+), Manhattan Christian School (grade B+), Petra Academy (grade B)
- Top places: Bozeman (grade A), Four Corners (grade B+), King Arthur Park (grade B+)
This story features data reporting and writing by Elena Cox and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
