Total monthly cost of ownership
Cost to Own a Home in Deer Lodge, Montana
A $196,000 home here costs
$1,640per 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 $70,500 a year.
A standard mortgage calculator would have told you $1,069. The real number is $571 higher every month, 53% more than the payment most buyers budget for.
Compare Powell County with anywhere in America · full county breakdown
Small-place caveat: the Census publishes these figures for Deer Lodge from a five-year rolling sample, and with about 3,035 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 Powell County figures are drawn from a far larger sample if you want a steadier number.
Where every dollar goes
Only the first line is a mortgage payment. Change any assumption above and every figure below recalculates.
Deer Lodge against Powell County and Montana
| Measure | Deer Lodge | Powell County |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $196,400 | $255,700 |
| Median property tax | $1,678 | $1,809 |
| Effective tax rate | 0.854% | 0.707% |
| Median gross rent | $781 | $770 |
| Population | 3,035 | 7,029 |
The weather behind that power bill
Deer Lodge sits in Powell County, which averages a high of 80.4°F in its hottest month and a low of 8.1°F in its coldest, with 11.8" of precipitation a year and 37% of it in a single three-month stretch. That climate drives 43 cooling and 9,521 heating degree days, which is what sets the $133 electricity line above.
See the full climate breakdown for Powell County , month by month temperatures, rainy season timing, snowfall and heating and cooling costs.
Other cities in Powell County
No other places of this size are published in Powell County.
Talk to someone who works this market
These are Deer Lodge 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 Deer Lodge every week. Free, no obligation, and we never sell your details to a list.
I'm looking to buy in Deer Lodge I already own here and may sell
Common questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Deer Lodge?
A $196,000 home in Deer Lodge, Montana costs approximately $1,640 per month with 20% down at 7.24%. That is $1,069 principal and interest, $139 property tax, $67 homeowners insurance, $201 utilities and $163 set aside for maintenance.
What is the property tax rate in Deer Lodge?
Deer Lodge has an effective property tax rate of 0.854%, based on a median home value of $196,400 and median real estate taxes of $1,678. That is higher than the Powell County average of 0.707%.
What is the average home price in Deer Lodge?
The median owner-occupied home value in Deer Lodge, Montana is $196,400, against $255,700 across Powell County.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Deer Lodge?
Median gross rent in Deer Lodge is $781 a month, against $1,640 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 Deer Lodge?
Using the standard 28% rule, housing costs at no more than 28% of gross income, buying the median home in Deer Lodge, Montana at today's rate takes a household income of roughly $70,500 a year. That covers the full $1,640 monthly cost, not just the mortgage payment.
Sources & methodology
- Median home value, real estate taxes, gross rent and population for Deer Lodge, 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.