W. C. Child Ranch · National Register of Historic Places
Montana City’s story
139 years in pictures
The archive holds 4 maps from 1899 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1887Montana City is settled
W. C. Child Ranch · Photo: Robstutz · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
3,092
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$571K
Census ACS
Household income
$130K
median
Median age
40.3
years
Jobs based here
826
A commuter town
Settled
1887
139 years ago
Is Montana City a good place to live?
A good place to live, if you can afford it. Its strongest subject is health (A): CDC estimates put its residents' health ahead of 89% of the country. It is strong on schools as well: its public schools beat 87% of Montana State towns on state tests and graduation. What counts against it is walkability (C−). Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 84% of U.S. towns. Cost of living is weaker too (C−): the typical home is worth about $571K, 7.3 years of the Helena metro’s $79K median household income. The overall grade lands at B+, better than 66% of U.S. towns. That places it 8th of 41 in Montana State.
Figures: health, CDC PLACES · schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24.
How Montana City grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Montana State), ordered by how far Montana City is from typical.
HealthSt. Peters Health 5.2 miles awayAOpen →SchoolsSchools rank among the strongest comparedAOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.2 of 20; 0.7% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC−Open →Cost of livingBelow the middle of the towns comparedC−Open →Jobs & income$130K median household incomeB+Open →Hazard riskInland flooding tops the listC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
What makes Montana City stand out
Where Montana City beats most towns.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Montana City for work
Where Montana City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
826jobs based in Montana City
7%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Montana City.
Montana City has less tooth loss than most of Montana State, has household incomes well above the Montana State norm and has a shorter frost-free season than most of the country, though not than most of Montana State.
HealthA
Montana City stands out in Montana State and nationally, with fewer of its adults who feel lonely
89%of U.S. towns are less healthyAHealth Grade
Its widest gap with Montana State is tooth loss: 7.2% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 12.3% statewide. Against the 4,568 U.S. towns with household incomes like Montana City’s, it is healthier than 68%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
Among 41 Montana State towns, just 4 have a lower share of adults who say their health is fair or poor than Montana City, and on top of that 14% of Montana City adults report frequent mental distress. No town among the 41 in Montana State we compare has a lower share of adults 18 to 64 who have no health insurance than Montana City. The town does better than the Montana State average on 13 of 32 CDC measures and worse on 1.
| Montana City | Typical Montana State town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 25% | 31% | 33% |
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 18% | 17% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 32% | 36% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 14% | 14% |
32 measures vs. Montana State
13 better18 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Montana City | MT |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.2% | 12.3% |
| Fewer adults facing food insecurity | 6.9% | 11.7% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 11.2% | 9.3% |
St. Peters Health
5.2 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
93rd
percentile among MT towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
SchoolsA
Montana City’s grade for schools is an A
87%of MT districts it outscoresASchool Grade
Public schools: the Montana City Elementary District. Its two schools are below.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montana City SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 313 | A |
| Montana City Middle SchlTop results in townGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 158 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MT on state tests and graduation
OutdoorsC
Protected land: nearly a quarter of Montana City
#26for trails in MT
The biggest place to walk is Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, 2,818 acres with 7.3 miles of trail. 16 miles of trail in 2 parks and preserves. Between them, the parks and preserves give Montana City 4,050 acres of open land.
25.9%
conserved · 5,612 of 21,694 acres
16 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest | 7.3 mi | 2,818 |
| 2. Bureau of Land Mgmt | — | 1,232 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B+
A smaller share of residents live below the poverty line in Montana City than in most of Montana State or the rest of the country
7%work in town
Jobs based here grew from 482 in 2013 to 826.
7.1% of Montana City working residents work locally, below both the Montana State town median (41%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Only one of the 42 Montana State towns we compare has a higher typical household income than Montana City. This Montana State town had 826 jobs in 2023, up 344 from 2013. In Montana City, the average trip to work is 24 minutes.
| Montana City | Typical Montana State town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $130,000 | $66,000 | $80,000 |
| Working residents who work in town | 7.1% | 41% | 8% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 11% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 15% | 7.7% | 11% |
Where working residents work
In Montana City7%
Helena53%
Missoula4%
Great Falls3%
Bozeman3%
7 mi
median commute distance
826
jobs based in Montana City
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C−
Walkability grade: more walkable than 16% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Montana City: four seasons and pleasant summers
37″snow a winter
The Helena Rgnl Ap weather station, 6 miles away, records that the frost-free season runs about 142 days: shorter than most of the country, but longer than 96% of Montana State places with climate records.
In Montana City, the peak summer temperature is 83°F.
Typical low → high °F
Winter15–34°
Spring31–55°
Summer49–79°
Fall32–57°
Sep 30
typical first frost
May 9
typical last frost
+1.3°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
More middle-aged adults than Montana State overall
40.3median age · MT overall 40.4
The median household earns $129,755, against $72,509 across Montana State, one input to its B+ for jobs and income.
Among residents in Montana City, 16% are 65 or older. Adults 35 to 64 are 43% of residents (37% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 16% of residents (22% statewide). 44% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Montana State.
| Montana City | Typical Montana State town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 44% | 30% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 25% | 21% | 22% |
| Aged 65 or older | 16% | 19% | 18% |
Montana CityMontana StateUnited States
Ages · share of residents
16%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school17%
Some college23%
Associate’s13%
Bachelor’s27%
Graduate17%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across Montana State, 49.3% of residents are women.
| Montana City | MT | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 15.1% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.4% | 10% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 6.9% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 9% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 15.3% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 15.9% | 11.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 12.3% | 12.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.1% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.7% | 5.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 16.6% | 27.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 23.1% | 22.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 12.6% | 9.6% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 26.6% | 23.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 17.4% | 12% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,100, single groups can be off by several points
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C+
Montana City has a moderate natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
56risk score of 100
Montana City’s risk rating from FEMA is recorded as 56 of 100. FEMA puts 30% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 29% to cold waves.
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesWildfire
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C−
Homes in Montana City sell for about $659K
$659Kmedian sale price
For households here, the share who live in a home they own is 98%. Montana City’s median rent is put at $2,077 a month. Homes sold in Montana City spent a median 86 days on the market.
| Montana City | Typical Montana State town | Typical U.S. town | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 98% | 64% | 73% |
| Median rent | $2,077 a month | $994 a month | $1,185 a month |
Market temperature
86
days on market
6
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Montana City
17pages on Montana City
The big questions
Out and about
Day to day
Getting set up
Moving to Montana City: who provides what
Montana City is unincorporated, so Jefferson County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerNorthWestern Energy14.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterSaddle Mountain Corp ClancyNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers86% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesJefferson CountyJefferson County provides services here
SchoolsJefferson High School DistrictMontana City Elementary School DistrictClancy Elementary School District3 districts serve Montana City; which school depends on your address and gradeNCES
Register to voteIn personMontana State 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 codes59634, 5963559634 95% · 59635 5%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
After high school
Colleges nearby
2 within 15 miles of the center of Montana City
Helena College University of MontanaCommunity college · Public · Helena6.3 mi$4,146 in-state tuitionCarroll CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Helena7.3 mi$41,484 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Montana City residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Montana State.
Montana City’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Montana City.
ClancySouth HillsMontana City
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MT rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana City | #8 | B+ | C− | — | A | A |
| Clancy | — | — | C+ | — | A | A− |
| South Hills | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Clancy has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Montana City and Clancy report no FBI crime data of their own. South Hills isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Montana City with a neighbor →
Questions about Montana City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Montana City, MT a good place to live?
For most people who can afford it, yes. Montana City grades B+ overall, better than 66% of U.S. towns and #8 of 41 in Montana State. It grades A for health and A for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a C−.
Is Montana City, MT expensive?
Yes. The typical home is worth about $571,000, 22% above the Montana State typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C−.
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