Montana real estate investing data by county
Updated 2026-11-09 · Official Census, HUD, NAIC and FHFA figures
What does it cost to own and rent in Montana?
Across Montana's 56 counties, the median county has an effective property tax rate of 0.71%, a median home value of $214,750 and a median rent of $801 a month. Yellowstone, the most populous county, has a median home value of $317,600 and a 0.84% tax rate. Property tax is lowest in Madison (0.41%) and highest in Blaine (1.52%). The average homeowners premium is $1,768 a year. On a $250,000 purchase, the Yellowstone rate works out to about $2,100 a year in property tax.
- Median property tax rate
- 0.71%
- Median home value
- $214,750
- Median rent / month
- $801
- Average insurance / year
- $1,768
Is there a transfer tax in Montana?
No transfer tax: Mont. Const. art. VIII s.17 bars the state or any local government from taxing the sale or transfer of real property; a Realty Transfer Certificate is still filed. The constitutional ban also covers local governments. Rules change and exemptions exist, so confirm with your title company. MT Legislature, Const. art. VIII s.17
Montana property tax, home values and rent by county
Select a column heading to sort.
| Yellowstone | 0.84% | $2,669 | $317,600 | $1,084 | $1,983 | 8.1% | 5.6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gallatin | 0.60% | $3,625 | $604,900 | $1,574 | $2,920 | 10.5% | 9.2% |
| Missoula | 0.91% | $3,833 | $423,100 | $1,125 | $2,340 | 11.0% | 8.3% |
| Flathead | 0.61% | $2,867 | $467,700 | $1,094 | $2,263 | 12.1% | 9.4% |
| Cascade | 0.92% | $2,236 | $243,300 | $902 | $1,811 | 10.4% | 6.9% |
| Lewis and Clark | 0.81% | $2,886 | $358,200 | $1,062 | $2,289 | 11.0% | 7.7% |
| Ravalli | 0.53% | $2,303 | $435,000 | $1,054 | $1,971 | 12.0% | 9.3% |
| Silver Bow | 1.05% | $2,357 | $223,500 | $810 | $1,962 | 11.4% | 8.6% |
| Lake | 0.66% | $2,436 | $369,200 | $884 | $1,821 | 12.0% | 8.3% |
| Lincoln | 0.58% | $1,499 | $258,700 | $810 | $1,624 | 12.4% | 9.3% |
| Park | 0.57% | $2,454 | $429,700 | $927 | $2,209 | 11.1% | 9.8% |
| Hill | 1.08% | $2,026 | $187,600 | $752 | $1,814 | 7.0% | 5.7% |
| Glacier | 0.81% | $1,246 | $153,400 | $553 | $1,523 | 13.3% | 7.7% |
| Big Horn | 1.00% | $1,482 | $148,200 | $686 | $1,795 | 8.3% | 5.3% |
| Sanders | 0.55% | $1,777 | $323,800 | $774 | $1,331 | 11.5% | 8.2% |
| Jefferson | 0.56% | $2,274 | $408,000 | $886 | $1,847 | 11.7% | 7.8% |
| Custer | 1.10% | $2,242 | $204,200 | $918 | $2,195 | 8.5% | 5.2% |
| Fergus | 0.84% | $1,709 | $202,700 | $868 | $1,995 | 12.1% | 7.4% |
| Richland | 0.75% | $1,935 | $259,000 | $866 | $1,567 | 4.7% | 2.2% |
| Carbon | 0.55% | $2,080 | $379,300 | $882 | $1,983 | 10.2% | 7.0% |
| Roosevelt | 1.29% | $1,535 | $119,400 | $707 | $1,433 | — | — |
| Beaverhead | 0.67% | $1,876 | $282,000 | $800 | $1,487 | 10.5% | 7.9% |
| Deer Lodge | 0.81% | $1,706 | $209,700 | $661 | $1,498 | 15.3% | 9.8% |
| Stillwater | 0.60% | $2,131 | $355,600 | $968 | $1,760 | 8.1% | 5.8% |
| Madison | 0.41% | $1,800 | $440,500 | $1,159 | $2,115 | 11.1% | 8.0% |
| Dawson | 1.17% | $2,199 | $187,400 | $823 | $1,587 | 4.4% | 1.8% |
| Rosebud | 0.63% | $1,191 | $188,900 | $644 | $1,646 | 11.3% | 5.1% |
| Valley | 1.10% | $2,185 | $198,600 | $769 | $1,664 | 5.4% | 3.5% |
| Broadwater | 0.61% | $2,210 | $364,800 | $978 | $2,258 | 10.9% | 8.6% |
| Powell | 0.71% | $1,809 | $255,700 | $770 | $1,573 | — | — |
| Blaine | 1.52% | $1,901 | $124,900 | $689 | $1,433 | — | — |
| Teton | 0.82% | $1,929 | $235,500 | $750 | $1,887 | 12.5% | 7.0% |
| Pondera | 0.88% | $1,584 | $179,200 | $806 | $1,705 | 10.1% | 6.0% |
| Chouteau | 0.78% | $1,446 | $185,100 | $485 | $1,814 | 11.3% | 7.5% |
| Musselshell | 0.63% | $1,383 | $221,200 | $865 | $1,867 | 8.8% | 6.0% |
| Toole | 0.96% | $1,805 | $187,400 | $753 | $1,629 | 7.0% | 3.5% |
| Mineral | 0.55% | $1,728 | $313,600 | $746 | $1,679 | 10.8% | 8.6% |
| Phillips | 0.85% | $1,484 | $175,000 | $623 | $1,404 | 8.0% | 5.8% |
| Sweet Grass | 0.49% | $1,452 | $295,500 | $1,073 | $1,544 | 9.7% | 8.8% |
| Sheridan | 1.29% | $1,436 | $111,600 | $749 | $1,681 | 7.7% | 3.3% |
| Granite | 0.61% | $2,061 | $339,500 | $734 | $1,461 | 10.6% | 9.3% |
| Fallon | 0.57% | $1,359 | $237,000 | $772 | $1,944 | — | — |
| Judith Basin | 0.45% | $971 | $214,200 | $502 | $1,609 | — | — |
| Wheatland | 0.65% | $1,122 | $172,700 | $741 | $1,549 | — | — |
| Meagher | 0.70% | $1,705 | $244,400 | $871 | $1,933 | — | — |
| Liberty | 1.03% | $1,204 | $116,800 | $668 | $1,435 | — | — |
| McCone | 0.67% | $1,330 | $197,400 | $543 | $2,149 | — | — |
| Powder River | 0.83% | $1,237 | $149,400 | $609 | $1,423 | — | — |
| Daniels | 0.86% | $1,533 | $177,800 | $588 | $1,421 | — | — |
| Carter | 0.44% | $782 | $176,600 | $731 | $1,486 | — | — |
| Prairie | 0.85% | $1,428 | $167,100 | $827 | $2,149 | — | — |
| Wibaux | 0.71% | $654 | $92,300 | $964 | $2,149 | — | — |
| Garfield | 0.66% | $1,169 | $178,300 | $802 | $1,442 | — | — |
| Golden Valley | 0.51% | $1,038 | $203,900 | $769 | $1,858 | — | — |
| Treasure | 0.62% | $1,326 | $215,300 | $992 | $2,149 | — | — |
| Petroleum | 0.73% | $1,261 | $173,700 | $769 | $2,149 | — | — |
Common questions
What is the typical property tax rate in Montana?
The median Montana county has an effective property tax rate of 0.71%, calculated from median taxes paid and median home value in the Census American Community Survey (2019-2023). Rates range from 0.41% in Madison to 1.52% in Blaine.
How much is homeowners insurance in Montana?
The average Montana HO-3 homeowners premium was $1,768 a year in 2023, according to the NAIC. That ranks 18 of 51 among the states and DC. This is a statewide average, so get a quote for the specific property.
What is fair market rent in Yellowstone, Montana?
HUD's 2027 Fair Market Rent for a three-bedroom home in Yellowstone is $1,983 a month, and $1,432 for a two-bedroom. HUD sets these at about the 40th percentile of rents, including utilities, so treat them as a cautious baseline.
How fast have home prices risen in Montana?
The median Montana county saw home prices rise 10.7% a year over the five years to 2025, according to the FHFA House Price Index. In Yellowstone, the ten-year pace was 5.6% a year. Those years include an unusually strong run, so don't assume the same pace going forward.
Where these numbers come from
Tax rate is median real estate taxes paid divided by median owner-occupied home value, ACS 2019-2023. A buyer may be reassessed higher than a long-time owner, so check the county's actual rate. Rents are HUD Fair Market Rents for 2027. Insurance is the NAIC 2023 statewide HO-3 average. Price changes are annualized from FHFA's developmental county House Price Index through 2025, and a dash means FHFA doesn't report that county. Past growth doesn't predict future growth. Updated 2026-11-09. Estimates only, not financial advice.
Run a Montana deal with these numbers
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