Ranked from ACS 2023 5-Year
Counties Where Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning in Montana
The widest gaps between median rent and the full monthly cost of owning the median home. A large gap does not automatically mean renting is the better decision, because rent buys no equity and is not fixed for thirty years, but it does show where the market prices ownership at a steep premium.
Montana ranked
| # | County | Monthly saved by renting | Median rent | Monthly to own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gallatin County | $2,865 | $1,574 | $4,439 |
| 2 | Flathead County | $2,388 | $1,094 | $3,482 |
| 3 | Park County | $2,273 | $927 | $3,200 |
| 4 | Ravalli County | $2,168 | $1,054 | $3,222 |
| 5 | Jefferson County | $2,158 | $886 | $3,044 |
| 6 | Missoula County | $2,147 | $1,125 | $3,272 |
| 7 | Madison County | $2,057 | $1,159 | $3,216 |
| 8 | Carbon County | $1,958 | $882 | $2,840 |
| 9 | Lake County | $1,920 | $884 | $2,804 |
| 10 | Granite County | $1,846 | $734 | $2,580 |
| 11 | Broadwater County | $1,779 | $978 | $2,757 |
| 12 | Stillwater County | $1,722 | $968 | $2,690 |
| 13 | Lewis and Clark County | $1,708 | $1,062 | $2,770 |
| 14 | Sanders County | $1,680 | $774 | $2,454 |
| 15 | Mineral County | $1,637 | $746 | $2,383 |
| 16 | Yellowstone County | $1,404 | $1,084 | $2,488 |
| 17 | Beaverhead County | $1,390 | $800 | $2,190 |
| 18 | Powell County | $1,243 | $770 | $2,013 |
| 19 | Lincoln County | $1,196 | $810 | $2,006 |
| 20 | Richland County | $1,179 | $866 | $2,045 |
| 21 | Judith Basin County | $1,170 | $502 | $1,672 |
| 22 | Sweet Grass County | $1,169 | $1,073 | $2,242 |
| 23 | Teton County | $1,141 | $750 | $1,891 |
| 24 | Fallon County | $1,081 | $772 | $1,853 |
| 25 | Cascade County | $1,065 | $902 | $1,967 |
| 26 | Meagher County | $1,059 | $871 | $1,930 |
| 27 | McCone County | $1,050 | $543 | $1,593 |
| 28 | Deer Lodge County | $1,043 | $661 | $1,704 |
| 29 | Silver Bow County | $1,039 | $810 | $1,849 |
| 30 | Chouteau County | $1,037 | $485 | $1,522 |
| 31 | Valley County | $903 | $769 | $1,672 |
| 32 | Daniels County | $894 | $588 | $1,482 |
| 33 | Musselshell County | $887 | $865 | $1,752 |
| 34 | Rosebud County | $882 | $644 | $1,526 |
| 35 | Golden Valley County | $842 | $769 | $1,611 |
| 36 | Phillips County | $837 | $623 | $1,460 |
| 37 | Hill County | $835 | $752 | $1,587 |
| 38 | Toole County | $814 | $753 | $1,567 |
| 39 | Custer County | $795 | $918 | $1,713 |
| 40 | Fergus County | $791 | $868 | $1,659 |
| 41 | Dawson County | $777 | $823 | $1,600 |
| 42 | Glacier County | $746 | $553 | $1,299 |
| 43 | Treasure County | $717 | $992 | $1,709 |
| 44 | Pondera County | $689 | $806 | $1,495 |
| 45 | Carter County | $681 | $731 | $1,412 |
| 46 | Wheatland County | $674 | $741 | $1,415 |
| 47 | Petroleum County | $664 | $769 | $1,433 |
| 48 | Powder River County | $663 | $609 | $1,272 |
| 49 | Garfield County | $653 | $802 | $1,455 |
| 50 | Big Horn County | $599 | $686 | $1,285 |
| 51 | Prairie County | $577 | $827 | $1,404 |
| 52 | Blaine County | $479 | $689 | $1,168 |
| 53 | Roosevelt County | $395 | $707 | $1,102 |
| 54 | Liberty County | $389 | $668 | $1,057 |
| 55 | Sheridan County | $294 | $749 | $1,043 |
| 56 | Wibaux County | $-112 | $964 | $852 |
Every figure is modelled on the county's own median home with 20% down at 7.03%. Property tax and electricity are county and state specific; homeowners insurance uses the NAIC average premium for that state, which ranges from 0.16% of home value in Hawaii to 1.16% in Oklahoma. Maintenance and water are national estimates. Full methodology.
Nationwide
Counties Where Renting Costs Far Less Than Owning across all 3,133 US counties · Every county in Montana