Cost to Own
United States › Montana › Pondera County › Conrad Population 2,553 Data vintage ACS 2023 5-Year Rates updated 2026-10-29
The part nobody budgets Even with the mortgage fully paid off, the median home here still costs $522 a month in taxes, insurance, utilities and upkeep. See the full Pondera County picture

Total monthly cost of ownership

Cost to Own a Home in Conrad, Montana

A $158,000 home here costs

$1,384

per month, all in, with 20% down at today's 7.24% 30-year fixed rate. By the 28% rule that takes a household income of about $59,500 a year.

P&I 62%Tax 10%Insurance 4%Utilities 15%Upkeep 10%

A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $861. The real number is $522 higher every month, 61% more than the payment most buyers budget for.

Compare Pondera County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown

Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Conrad from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 2,553 residents that sample is small. The median home value here carries a much wider margin of error than a big-city figure does, so treat it as indicative rather than exact. The Pondera County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.

Conrad median: $158,400
Under 20% adds PMI
Freddie Mac PMMS
MT average household

Where every dollar goes

Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.

Principal & interest30-year fixed, $126,400 borrowed $861
Property tax1.030% effective rate for Conrad itself $136
Homeowners insuranceMontana averages $1,471/yr (NAIC), or 0.413% of home value $54
Electricity15.57ยข/kWh, Montana residential average, EIA $133
Water, sewer & trashUS household average $68
Maintenance reserve1% of home value per year $132
Total monthly $1,384

Conrad against Pondera County and Montana

MeasureConradPondera County
Median home value$158,400$179,200
Median property tax$1,631$1,584
Effective tax rate1.030%0.884%
Median gross rent$888$806
Population2,5536,012

The weather behind that power bill

Conrad sits in Pondera County, which averages a high of 81.5°F in its hottest month and a low of 13.0°F in its coldest, with 12.63" of precipitation a year and 52% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 246 cooling and 7,823 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.

See the full climate breakdown for Pondera County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.

Other cities in Pondera County

No other places of this size are published in Pondera County.

Full Pondera County cost breakdown · Every county in Montana

Talk to someone who works this market

These are Conrad averages. What one specific house costs to own, or what it would sell for today, depends on the street and the condition of the place. We will connect you with one licensed local agent who works Conrad every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.

I'm looking to buy in Conrad I already own here and may sell

Common questions

How much does it cost to own a home in Conrad?

A $158,000 home in Conrad, Montana costs approximately $1,384 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $861 principal and interest, $136 property tax, $54 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $132 set aside for maintenance.

What is the property tax rate in Conrad?

Conrad has an effective property tax rate of 1.030%, based on a median home value of $158,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,631. That is higher than the Pondera County average of 0.884%.

What is the average home price in Conrad?

The median owner-occupied home value in Conrad, Montana is $158,400, against $179,200 across Pondera County.

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Conrad?

Median gross rent in Conrad is $888 a month, against $1,384 to own the median home all in. Renting costs less month to month here, though renting builds no equity.

What salary do you need to buy a home in Conrad?

Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Conrad, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $59,500 a year. That covers the full $1,384 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.

Sources & methodology

  • Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Conrad, US Census Bureau, American Community Survey ACS 2023 5-Year, place-level tables.
  • Homeowners insurance, NAIC average premium for Montana.
  • Electricity price, EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A.
  • Mortgage rate, Freddie Mac PMMS, refreshed weekly.
  • Maintenance (1%/yr) and water and sewer ($68/mo) are national estimates. Every assumption above is editable.

Full methodology