Deer Lodge gives you more for your money than most places: a typical home costs about $297K, 4.4 years of the county’s $67K median household income. It grades B− overall, 15th among Montana's 41 graded towns. On the plus side, natural-hazard risk is low. Its National Register listings include Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site and Montana Territorial and State Prison. Deer Lodge is more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns. Among 42 Montana towns, just 4 have a lower share of children under 18 than Deer Lodge.

StrongestA⁻Hazard risk A⁻Civic life A⁻Walkability

What makes Deer Lodge stand out

Where Deer Lodge beats most towns.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

HistoryA⁻

Settled in 1860

14 places on the National Register

A history going back 166 years.

Natural hazardsA⁻

Low risk of storm and flood damage

FEMA National Risk Index.

Community nonprofits per 1,000 residents

64% more nonprofits per person

than the typical Montana town

Charities, civic groups and human services; churches not counted.

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site · National Register of Historic Places

Deer Lodge’s story

166 years in pictures

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site is a National Historic Landmark, the National Register’s top tier. Its founding year, 1860, comes before those of 97% of the Montana towns we grade with a known year.

Census counts: 788 in 1870, a peak of 4,681 in 1960, 2,938 in 2020. The archive holds 12 old photos and papers going back to 1869 and 3 maps from 1959 on.

14 places on the National Register of Historic Places.

1860Deer Lodge is settled

Explore the history →

How Deer Lodge grades

Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Montana), ordered by how far Deer Lodge is from typical.

How grading works

Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities; cold waves tops the listA⁻Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.7 of 20; 3.9% of households have no car; 3.7% of workers walk, bike or ride transitA⁻Open →Cost of livingA⁻Open →HealthDeer Lodge Medical Center 2.9 miles awayCOpen →Jobs & income$60K median household incomeC⁺Open →SafetyC⁺Open →SchoolsC⁺Open →

Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.

Outdoors1 mile of trail; 10% conserved landA⁻Open →History13 notable people born hereA⁻Open →Civic life15.9 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsA⁻Open →

Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.

Climate–Open →Housing market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 49.8; 24% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →

How TownRatings grades towns →

Getting set up

Moving to Deer Lodge: who provides what

Who provides power, water and the rest in Deer Lodge, and how to reach them.

The full setup list →

PowerNorthWestern Energy14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA

WaterCity of Deer Lodge water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA

Internet3 providers97% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC

Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Deer Lodge’s trash rules yet

SchoolsDeer Lodge Elementary School District Powell County High School District2 districts serve Deer Lodge; 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.gov

Who runs elections herePowell County Election AdministratorPowell County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Sep 2025

ZIP code5972259722 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 Deer Lodge.

Deer Lodge has a shorter frost-free season than nearly all U.S. towns, is healthier than towns with similar incomes and has home values climbing faster than Montana’s.

HousingCost of living grade A⁻

For cost of living, Deer Lodge earns an A−

Home values rose 46% in five years, to about $297K, against 23% across Montana.

Typical home values rose 5.7% in the year to September 2026. At $852 a month, Deer Lodge’s median rent is against $1,004 a month in Montana’s towns and $1,185 a month across U.S. towns.

$297KZillow home value

	Deer Lodge	Montana towns	U.S. towns
Median rent	$852 a month	$1,004 a month	$1,185 a month
Households that own their home	68%	64%	73%

Typical home value

Deer Lodge$297K

Montana$467K

+5.7%

value change, 1 year

Full pageDeer Lodge’s housing & cost-of-living pageOpen the page

Prices over the yearsUp 5.7% in a year Years of income to buyA typical home costs 4.9 years of income Rents$852 a month · Median rent

Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center

SchoolsC⁺

Deer Lodge’s public schools trail 60% of Montana districts

Its public schools are run by the Deer Lodge Elementary District. Two of its 3 schools are below, each with why it’s listed.

40%of MT districts it outscoresC⁺School Grade

School	Level	Students	Letter
O D Speer SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–6	Grades PK–6	337	C⁺
Powell County High SchoolLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12	Grades 9–12	181	C⁻

Full pageDeer Lodge’s schools pageOpen the page

The districtsDeer Lodge Elem Every school3 schools · O D Speer School Questions“Are Deer Lodge’s schools good?”

NCES · EDFacts · graded within MT on state tests and graduation

Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A⁻

Deer Lodge faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by cold waves

Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 80% of U.S. communities. Since 1981, 16 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Deer Lodge.

20risk score of 100

FEMA risk score

Cold wavesInland floodingEarthquakes

paid flood claims since 1981

federal disasters paid out here

Full pageDeer Lodge’s hazards pageOpen the page

What it facesLow risk Flood claims16 paid flood claims · Since 1981 Past disasters1 federal disaster · Paid out in Deer Lodge Get ready4.3 events a year, on average · Ready for cold waves

FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA

OutdoorsA⁻

Conserved land covers 10.1% of Deer Lodge

1.2 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves. At 0.8 miles per square mile, Deer Lodge’s trail density is close to Montana’s towns (0.6) and above U.S. towns (0.4).

#20for trails in MT

10.1%

conserved · 101 of 997 acres

1.2 mi

of trails · 0.8 per sq mi

Biggest places to walk	Trails	Acres
1. Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site	—	17
2. State	—	11
3. MT Corrections	—	2

Full pageDeer Lodge’s outdoors pageOpen the page

Trail map1.2 miles of trail, mapped Pick a walk17 acres · Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site Conserved land10.1% conserved · 101 acres protected Questions“Where can I hike in Deer Lodge?”

Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US

HealthC

Residents of Deer Lodge are less healthy than 68% of U.S. towns

Against the 9,008 U.S. towns with household incomes like Deer Lodge’s, it is less healthy than 50%, so its C isn’t only a matter of income.

Deer Lodge beats the Montana average on 0 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 11. 17% of adults report frequent physical distress in Deer Lodge. Only 4 of the 41 Montana towns we compare have a higher share of adults who get no exercise outside work than Deer Lodge.

32%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade

	Deer Lodge	Montana towns	U.S. towns
Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES)	17%	14%	14%
Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES)	17%	14%	14%
High blood pressure (CDC PLACES)	38%	32%	35%
Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES)	74%	72%	79%

32 measures vs. Montana

0 better21 too close to call11 worse

What stands out	Deer Lodge	MT
More adults with COPD	9.5%	7%
More adults who get no exercise	27.4%	20.6%
More older adults who have lost all their teeth	15.9%	12.3%

Deer Lodge Medical Center

2.9 mi away · emergency room

3 of 3

care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health

13th

percentile among MT towns

Full pageDeer Lodge’s health reportOpen the page

Everyday habitsMore adults who get no exercise Hospitals & doctors nearby2.9 miles to an ER · Deer Lodge Medical Center How adults are doingMore adults in fair or poor health Every CDC estimateBetter than MT on 0 of 32

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA

Climate

Deer Lodge has snowy winters and pleasant summers

The Anaconda weather station, 21 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 105 days, shorter than in 100% of U.S. towns.

Deer Lodge has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. Deer Lodge’s July high is 83°F.

75″snow a winter

Typical low → high °F

Winter11–34°

Spring27–55°

Summer43–79°

Fall27–56°

+1.4°

vs. the 20th-century average

Full pageDeer Lodge’s climate pageOpen the page

A year of weatherJuly highs 83°, January lows 11°Rain & snow75″ of snow a winter · 11 inches of rain and snow a year Heating & coolingMostly a heating bill Then and now+1.4° vs. the 20th century · Warmer than the 20th-century average

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020

Work & commuteJobs & income grade C⁺

About one in three working residents works right in Deer Lodge

About one in 3 of Deer Lodge’s working residents works in town. The average trip to work in Deer Lodge is 14 minutes. Jobs based in Deer Lodge grew to 1,087 in 2023, 147 more than in 2013.

31%work in town

	Deer Lodge	Montana towns	U.S. towns
Average trip to work	14 minutes	17 minutes	25 minutes
Working residents who work in town	31%	41%	8%
Below the poverty line	7.2%	11%	9.6%
Median household income	$60,000	$68,000	$80,000

Where working residents work

In Deer Lodge31%

Butte-Silver Bow8%

Helena7%

Missoula4%

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County3%

6 mi

median commute distance

1,087

jobs based in Deer Lodge

Balanced

jobs vs. working residents

A−

Walkability grade: more walkable than 82% of U.S. towns

Full pageDeer Lodge’s work & commute pageOpen the page

The jobs here1,087 jobs based here · Balanced Where people work31% work in Deer Lodge Commute times14 minutes · The average commute How far they goHalf commute less than 6 miles

Census LEHD 2023 · ACS

SafetyC⁺

Deer Lodge sees more crime per resident than 60% of U.S. towns

Within Montana, it does better than 80% of towns.

40%of U.S. towns report more crimeC⁺Safety Grade

	Deer Lodge	Montana towns	U.S. towns
Property crimes per 1,000 (2025)	5.3 per 1,000 residents	15.7	9.9
Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025)	2.7 per 1,000 residents	4.5	1.6

Violent crime per 1,000 residents

Deer Lodge2.7

Montana4.2

U.S.3.3

Property crime per 1,000 residents

Deer Lodge5.3

Montana14.7

U.S.15.5

40th

percentile among U.S. towns we grade

80th

percentile among MT towns

violent crimes reported in 2025

property crimes reported in 2025

Full pageDeer Lodge’s safety reportOpen the page

Violent crime by type2.7 violent crimes per 1,000 Crime over the yearsSteady since 2023 Questions“Is Deer Lodge, MT safe?”

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police

Keep exploring

Everything we know about Deer Lodge

20pages on Deer Lodge

The big questions

SchoolsC⁺Behind 60% of MT districts · 3 schools SafetyC⁺2.7 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than MT on 0 of 32 CDC measures Cost of livingA⁻$297K typical home · up 5.7% in a year Work & commuteC⁺$60K median household income · 1,087 jobs here Natural hazardsA⁻FEMA risk higher than 20% of U.S. communities · cold waves

Out and about

OutdoorsA⁻1 mi of trails · 10% conserved land PlacesAttractions9 nearby · Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site under 1 mi LibraryA⁻William K. Kohrs Memorial Library Colleges

The story

HistoryA⁻Settled 1860 · 14 on the National Register Famous people13 born in Deer Lodge Town Hall & politicsOne full-time town employee per 189 residents Climate83° summer highs · 75″ of snow

Day to day

NewsWeatherHandbookZIP code 59722 Town SquareNeighbors

After high school

Colleges nearby

None within 15 miles of Deer Lodge; the nearest are

Montana Technological UniversityUniversity or college · Public · Butte27.9 mi$8,340 in-state tuition Highlands College of Montana TechCommunity college · Public · Butte33.6 mi$4,130 in-state tuition

About 3 of every 100 Deer Lodge residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Montana.

Prices by family income, graduation and earnings →

Landmarks

14 places in Deer Lodge on the National Register of Historic Places.

All landmarks →

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic SiteBuilt 1972 · National Historic Landmark

Montana Territorial and State Prison

Kohrs, William K., Free Memorial Library

William E. Coleman House

Famous people from Deer Lodge

13 notable people were born in Deer Lodge.

See all 13 →

Phil JacksonAmerican basketball player, coach and executive · born 1945

Jean ParkerAmerican actress · 1915–2005

Greg RiceAmerican long-distance runner · 1916–1991

Elizabeth LochrieAmerican artist · 1890–1981

William Andrews Clark, Jr.Philanthropist, book collector · 1877–1934

Dennis EichhornWriter · 1946–2015

About Deer Lodge

City in Powell County, Montana, United States

Deer Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Powell County, Montana, United States. Its population was 2,938 at the 2020 census.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Established: 1860
Area: 1.4 sq mi
Elevation: 4,567 ft
ZIP code: 59722
Area code: 406

Questions about Deer Lodge

Short answers, built from the data on this page.

Is Deer Lodge, MT a good place to live?

Deer Lodge grades B− overall, better than 46% of U.S. towns and #15 of 41 in Montana. It grades C for health, C+ for safety and C+ for schools.

Is Deer Lodge, MT safe?