193911XX-FS-Montana-KDS-368120, 1939
Darby’s story
137 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1939.
- 1889Darby is settled
DarbyMT
A town of 888, settled in 1889.
Photo: TownofDarby · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
888
2025 Census estimate · +12.5% since 2020
Typical home
$564K
+3.2% in a year
Household income
$44K
median
Median age
57.2
years
Jobs based here
340
Balanced
Is Darby a good place to live?
Darby’s median age is 57.2 years, where Montana’s towns sit at 38.9 years and U.S. towns at 40.5 years. Only 2 of the 43 Montana towns we compare have a lower share of adults with a bachelor’s degree than Darby. 13% of the land in Darby is conserved, against 9.2% in Montana’s towns and 4.3% across U.S. towns. Darby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
888 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Darby: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Darby, and how to reach them.
PowerNorthWestern Energy14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterTown of Darby water system1 health-based violation in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet3 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Darby’s trash rules yet
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 hereRavalli County Election AdministratorRavalli County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025
ZIP code5982959829 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 Darby.
Natural hazards
In Darby, the FEMA risk score runs higher than in the typical Montana or U.S. town
The FEMA risk score in Darby is 98 of 100.
98risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
WildfireAvalanchesInland flooding
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Schools
The schools Darby’s kids attend
Its public schools are run by the Darby K-12 Schools. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darby SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6 | Grades PK–6 | 170 | C |
| Darby High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 116 | D− |
NCES · EDFacts
Climate
In Darby, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Darby has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. July afternoons reach 85° and January nights drop to 18°.
85°summer high
Typical low → high °F
Winter19–36°
Spring32–58°
Summer47–81°
Fall32–58°
Sep 23
typical first frost
May 24
typical last frost
+1.1°
vs. the 20th-century average
85°
typical summer high
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Housing
The typical home in Darby is valued at about $564K
The typical Darby home is worth about $564,000, up 3.2% in a year, 21% above the Montana typical home. 45% of households own their home in Darby.
$564KZillow home value
| Darby | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 45% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $889 a month | $1,000 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Darby$564K
Montana$467K
+3.2%
value change, 1 year
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Outdoors
Darby has set aside 13.4% of its land for conservation
0.3 miles of trail in 1 park or preserve.
13.4%conserved
13.4%
conserved · 58 of 436 acres
0.3 mi
of trails · 0.4 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tin Cup Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commute
A job hub: Darby has 1.5 jobs for every working resident and draws in 299 commuters
Most working residents leave Darby for work: only 18% work in town. Darby’s median household income is $44,000. Jobs based in Darby fell to 340 in 2023, 70 fewer than in 2013.
18%work in town
| Darby | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working residents who work in town | 18% | 39% | 8% |
| Median household income | $44,000 | $67,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 17 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 14% | 10% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Darby18%
Hamilton22%
Missoula5%
Billings5%
Bozeman3%
16 mi
median commute distance
340
jobs based in Darby
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Safety
Crime reported in Darby
11 crimes were reported in Darby in 2025: 5 property and 6 violent. In a town this small, a few incidents move the numbers a lot, so rates aren't shown.
Darby is small, so we show counts rather than rates.
6
violent crimes reported in 2025
5
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Health
How healthy Darby is
Darby beats the Montana average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 6. 73% of Darby adults had a checkup this year.
| Darby | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 73% | 72% | 79% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 16% | 14% | 14% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 20% | 16% |
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 31% | 33% |
32 measures vs. Montana
0 better26 too close to call6 worse
| What stands out | Darby | MT |
|---|---|---|
| More older adults who have lost all their teeth | 17.1% | 12.3% |
| More adults with heart disease | 7.9% | 6.6% |
| More adults who have had a stroke | 4.1% | 3.5% |
Bitterroot Health - Daly Hospital
15.4 mi away · emergency room
1 of 3
care shortages: mental health
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Darby
19pages on Darby
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Darby; the nearest are
The University of MontanaUniversity or college · Public · Missoula58.4 mi$8,552 in-state tuitionHighlands College of Montana TechCommunity college · Public · Butte80.4 mi$4,130 in-state tuition
About 0 of every 100 Darby residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Montana.
About Darby
Town in Montana, United States
Darby is a town in Ravalli County, Montana, United States. The population was 783 at the 2020 census. Darby is located near the southwestern border of Montana and Idaho, along the Continental Divide. Officially established in 1889, the town was named after James W. Darby who signed the post office application.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.6 sq mi
- Elevation
- 3,885 ft
- ZIP code
- 59829
- Area code
- 406
Questions about Darby
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Darby, MT a good place to live?
Darby has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.