The 10 Best Small Towns In Montana For 2022


We used science and data to determine which small towns in Montana are the best of the best.

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You've seen these lists before: Best places to live in Montana, Most Beautiful Downtowns, etc., etc. But all of them focus on major cities and towns in the Treasure State and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that's all about to change as we put together a list of the best small towns in Montana based on numbers--not opinions or hearsay.

We'll dive right into our methodology in the next section; but first, we thought you might just want to know which places in Montana ranked the based--you know, based on science.

Before we get to the top 15, here's a look at the 10 Best Small Towns To Live in Montana for 2022.

What's the best small town in Montana? King Arthur Park is the best small town in Montana based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like King Arthur Park, chances are, you're not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you--keep reading and we'll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Treasure State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In Montana For 2022

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,933
Median Income: $86,953 (5th Best)
Median Home Value: $255,000 (17th Best)
More on King Arthur Park: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,256
Median Income: $85,080 (6th Best)
Median Home Value: $269,800 (16th Best)
More on Helena Valley Northwest: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,964
Median Income: $89,205 (4th Best)
Median Home Value: $317,800 (7th Best)
More on Clancy: Data | Homes For Sale

Red Lodge, MT

Source: Public domain
Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 2,134
Median Income: $49,286 (33rd Best)
Median Home Value: $277,600 (12th Best)
More on Red Lodge: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Source: Public Domain
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,821
Median Income: $105,134 (2nd Best)
Median Home Value: $359,300 (6th Best)
More on Montana City: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,519
Median Income: $112,656 (1st Best)
Median Home Value: $373,700 (5th Best)
More on Helena Valley Northeast: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,859
Median Income: $77,907 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $417,000 (3rd Best)
More on Four Corners: Data | Homes For Sale

Three Forks, MT

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,977
Median Income: $67,930 (13th Best)
Median Home Value: $225,000 (19th Best)
More on Three Forks: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,054
Median Income: $80,455 (7th Best)
Median Home Value: $513,100 (1st Best)
More on Big Sky: Data | Homes For Sale

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 4,064
Median Income: $60,903 (18th Best)
Median Home Value: $270,000 (15th Best)
More on Lolo: Data | Homes For Sale

Chester, MT

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,076
Median Income: $43,750 (44th Best)
Median Home Value: $114,800 (57th Best)
More on Chester: Data | Homes For Sale

Manhattan, MT

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,950
Median Income: $61,103 (17th Best)
Median Home Value: $270,800 (14th Best)
More on Manhattan: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Glasgow, MT

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 3,332
Median Income: $50,541 (30th Best)
Median Home Value: $151,300 (42nd Best)
More on Glasgow: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Scobey, MT

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,047
Median Income: $42,083 (47th Best)
Median Home Value: $153,900 (38th Best)
More on Scobey: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Plentywood, MT

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 1,527
Median Income: $51,182 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $145,900 (44th Best)
More on Plentywood: PhotosData | Homes For Sale

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In Montana

We threw a lot of criteria at this one in order to get the best, most complete results possible. Using the most recent data from the Census's 2016-2020 American Community Survey and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which, there were a lot - 66 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 66, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in Montana. Top of that list -- King Arthur Park. You can download the data here.

Keep reading to find out more about our top 15 best small towns in Montana.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once and we'll say it again -- this list: it's just science. We did the research, we crunched the numbers, and it turns out, these 15 small towns in Montana are the best, in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

If you're curious, here are the worst small towns in Montana:

  1. Crow Agency
  2. South Browning
  3. Pablo

For more Montana reading, check out:

Detailed List Of The Best Small Towns In Montana

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value
1 King Arthur Park, MT 1,933 $86,953.0 $255,000.0
2 Helena Valley Northwest, MT 4,256 $85,080.0 $269,800.0
3 Clancy, MT 1,964 $89,205.0 $317,800.0
4 Red Lodge, MT 2,134 $49,286.0 $277,600.0
5 Montana City, MT 2,821 $105,134.0 $359,300.0
6 Helena Valley Northeast, MT 3,519 $112,656.0 $373,700.0
7 Four Corners, MT 4,859 $77,907.0 $417,000.0
8 Three Forks, MT 1,977 $67,930.0 $225,000.0
9 Big Sky, MT 3,054 $80,455.0 $513,100.0
10 Lolo, MT 4,064 $60,903.0 $270,000.0
11 Chester, MT 1,076 $43,750.0 $114,800.0
12 Manhattan, MT 1,950 $61,103.0 $270,800.0
13 Glasgow, MT 3,332 $50,541.0 $151,300.0
14 Scobey, MT 1,047 $42,083.0 $153,900.0
15 Plentywood, MT 1,527 $51,182.0 $145,900.0
16 East Helena, MT 1,684 $57,652.0 $192,700.0
17 Absarokee, MT 1,048 $61,667.0 $213,300.0
18 West Yellowstone, MT 1,090 $39,342.0 $275,000.0
19 Fort Benton, MT 1,410 $58,802.0 $159,500.0
20 Columbus, MT 1,964 $55,438.0 $191,000.0
21 Bigfork, MT 4,733 $73,667.0 $444,300.0
22 Colstrip, MT 2,335 $90,263.0 $116,900.0
23 Helena West Side, MT 1,656 $70,395.0 $308,500.0
24 Big Timber, MT 1,736 $51,406.0 $172,100.0
25 Frenchtown, MT 1,741 $69,800.0 $300,500.0
26 Baker, MT 1,905 $71,111.0 $151,900.0
27 Forsyth, MT 1,596 $49,257.0 $121,000.0
28 Lakeside, MT 2,245 $61,940.0 $410,600.0
29 Chinook, MT 1,225 $41,339.0 $128,400.0
30 Dillon, MT 4,333 $35,304.0 $164,300.0
31 West Glendive, MT 1,635 $60,781.0 $172,300.0
32 Cut Bank, MT 3,049 $42,616.0 $104,700.0
33 Hamilton, MT 4,827 $36,117.0 $201,200.0
34 Conrad, MT 2,624 $48,889.0 $130,800.0
35 Choteau, MT 1,878 $52,500.0 $158,800.0
36 Deer Lodge, MT 2,893 $36,168.0 $118,600.0
37 Park City, MT 1,090 $65,000.0 $195,200.0
38 East Missoula, MT 2,214 $53,155.0 $227,700.0
39 Malta, MT 2,058 $44,924.0 $139,300.0
40 Helena Flats, MT 1,219 $48,438.0 $286,900.0
41 Shelby, MT 2,875 $44,250.0 $155,500.0
42 Somers, MT 1,079 $46,775.0 $222,000.0
43 Whitehall, MT 1,000 $39,342.0 $152,800.0
44 Seeley Lake, MT 1,512 $42,768.0 $222,300.0
45 Libby, MT 2,758 $37,434.0 $148,400.0
46 Stevensville, MT 1,897 $38,393.0 $207,300.0
47 Lincoln, MT 1,017 $36,271.0 $188,100.0
48 Hardin, MT 3,777 $49,906.0 $133,100.0
49 Harlowton, MT 1,031 $39,044.0 $115,900.0
50 Townsend, MT 2,080 $58,092.0 $159,000.0
51 Sun Prairie, MT 1,617 $45,597.0 $137,300.0
52 Plains, MT 1,019 $23,413.0 $139,800.0
53 Wolf Point, MT 2,739 $44,648.0 $102,800.0
54 Thompson Falls, MT 1,489 $39,545.0 $151,800.0
55 Corvallis, MT 1,755 $52,689.0 $188,900.0
56 Marion, MT 1,041 $54,138.0 $290,300.0
57 Boulder, MT 1,027 $47,813.0 $142,500.0
58 Eureka, MT 1,517 $25,625.0 $163,200.0
59 Ronan, MT 1,812 $30,368.0 $139,800.0
60 Roundup, MT 1,723 $34,395.0 $86,100.0
61 North Browning, MT 2,862 $34,625.0 $96,000.0
62 Fort Belknap Agency, MT 1,520 $44,722.0 $63,500.0
63 Lame Deer, MT 2,288 $49,408.0 $65,600.0
64 Pablo, MT 2,032 $23,750.0 $112,500.0
65 South Browning, MT 1,742 $18,587.0 $34,400.0
66 Crow Agency, MT 1,972 $27,632.0 $82,200.0

This article is an opinion based on facts and is meant as infotainment. This is our ninth time ranking the best small places to live in Montana.

About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.