MTMap-doton-Cardwell, 2005
Cardwell’s story
117 years in pictures
Census counts: 40 in 2000, 62 in 2020. The archive holds 1 old photo or paper going back to 2005 and 3 maps from 1950 on.
- 1909Cardwell is settled
CardwellMT
A town of 30, settled in 1909.
Lewis and Clark Caverns Historic District · Photo: Montanabw · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
30
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$570K
+0.2% in a year
Median age
43.8
years
Land area
2 sq mi
Is Cardwell a good place to live?
Cardwell’s average trip to work is 48 minutes, above both the Montana town median (17 minutes) and the median of U.S. towns (25 minutes). Only 3 of the 43 Montana towns we compare have a higher share of households owning their home than Cardwell. Cardwell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
30 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
Moving to Cardwell: who provides what
Cardwell is unincorporated, so Jefferson County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerVigilante Electric CoopEIAHIFLD · EIA
Internet4 providers0% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesJefferson CountyJefferson County provides services here
SchoolsCardwell Elementary School DistrictWhitehall High School District2 districts serve Cardwell; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personMontana has no online registration; you can register in person up to and including Election Day or by mail (postmarked 30 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereJefferson County Election AdministratorJefferson County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2021
ZIP code5972159721 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Cardwell.
Natural hazards
Cardwell faces a high natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 73% of U.S. communities.
73risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesEarthquakes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Cardwell’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Cardwell Elementary District. Its one school is below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardwell SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 35 | C− |
NCES · EDFacts
Housing
Homes in Cardwell are worth about $570K, by Zillow’s estimate
The typical Cardwell home is worth about $570,000, about the same as a year ago, 22% above the Montana typical home.
$570KZillow home value
Typical home value
Cardwell$570K
Montana$467K
+0.2%
value change, 1 year
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Climate
In Cardwell, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Cardwell has cold winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 86° and January nights drop to 13°.
86°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter13–37°
Spring30–58°
Summer47–82°
Fall30–60°
Sep 27
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.4°
vs. the 20th-century average
86°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Health
How healthy Cardwell is
Cardwell beats the Montana average on 2 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 4. 29% of Cardwell adults sleep under 7 hours, below both Montana’s towns (32%) and U.S. towns (36%). 28% of Cardwell adults feel lonely.
| Cardwell | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 36% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 72% | 79% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
32 measures vs. Montana
2 better26 too close to call4 worse
| What stands out | Cardwell | MT |
|---|---|---|
| More adults seeing a dentist | 66.2% | 63.3% |
| More adults treating high blood pressure | 76% | 73.4% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.8% | 6.6% |
St. James Hospital
29.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Cardwell
16pages on Cardwell
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Cardwell; the nearest are
Highlands College of Montana TechCommunity college · Public · Butte26.7 mi$4,130 in-state tuitionMontana Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Butte30.4 mi$8,340 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Cardwell residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Montana.
About Cardwell
Census-designated place in Montana, United States
Cardwell is a census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson County, Montana, United States. The population was 62 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town was named for area rancher and state senator Edward Cardwell.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 2.2 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,285 ft
- ZIP code
- 59721
- Area code
- 406
Questions about Cardwell
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Cardwell, MT a good place to live?
Cardwell has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.