Best counties to raise a family in Montana

Written by:
September 1, 2023
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Best counties to raise a family in Montana

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wish lists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Montana using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you'll find one that suits your brood.

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#30. Powell County, Montana

- Population: 6,955
- Median home value: $144,000 (66% own)
- Median rent: $649 (34% own)
- Median household income: $53,111
- Top public schools: E.F. Duvall Junior High School (grade B), O.D. Speer School (grade B minus), Powell County High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: Deer Lodge (grade B minus), Elliston (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade C+

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#29. Richland County, Montana

- Population: 11,375
- Median home value: $236,700 (68% own)
- Median rent: $740 (32% own)
- Median household income: $62,530
- Top public schools: Savage Elementary School (grade B+), Rau School (grade B), West Side Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Liberty Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Sidney (grade C+), Crane (grade B+), Savage (grade B)

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#28. Glacier County, Montana

- Population: 13,827
- Median home value: $129,700 (66% own)
- Median rent: $534 (34% own)
- Median household income: $39,441
- Top public schools: H.C. Davis Elementary School (grade B), Anna Jeffries Elementary School (grade B minus), Cut Bank High School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: De La Salle Blackfeet School (grade unavailable), Cuts Wood School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Cut Bank (grade B minus), North Browning (grade C minus), East Glacier Park Village (grade B)

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#27. Valley County, Montana

- Population: 7,553
- Median home value: $160,800 (76% own)
- Median rent: $662 (24% own)
- Median household income: $53,667
- Top public schools: Lustre School (grade B+), Glasgow High School (grade B minus), Glasgow Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Lustre Christian High School (grade B)
- Top places to live: Glasgow (grade B), Hinsdale (grade C+), Fort Peck (grade C+)

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#26. Roosevelt County, Montana

- Population: 10,884
- Median home value: $103,500 (66% own)
- Median rent: $551 (34% own)
- Median household income: $47,182
- Top public schools: Froid Elementary School (grade A), Froid High School (grade B minus), Culbertson High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Wolf Point (grade C+), Froid (grade A), Culbertson (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade C

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#25. Dawson County, Montana

- Population: 9,003
- Median home value: $152,700 (70% own)
- Median rent: $735 (30% own)
- Median household income: $57,684
- Top public schools: Dawson High School (grade C+), Washington Middle School (grade C), Lincoln School (grade C)
- Top private schools: Valley View Seventh-day Adventist School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Glendive (grade B), West Glendive (grade B minus), Richey (grade B+)

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#24. Carbon County, Montana

- Population: 10,488
- Median home value: $297,500 (73% own)
- Median rent: $841 (27% own)
- Median household income: $63,178
- Top public schools: Red Lodge High School (grade A minus), Joliet High School (grade B+), Mountain View School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Bearcreek (grade B), Joliet (grade B), Red Lodge (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade C+

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#23. Ravalli County, Montana

- Population: 43,790
- Median home value: $316,400 (77% own)
- Median rent: $866 (23% own)
- Median household income: $59,640
- Top public schools: Lone Rock Junior High School (grade A minus), Lone Rock Elementary School (grade A minus), Hamilton High School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Pines Academy (grade unavailable), Hamilton Christian Academy (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hamilton (grade B minus), Florence (grade B minus), Corvallis (grade C+)

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#22. Big Horn County, Montana

- Population: 13,198
- Median home value: $148,900 (67% own)
- Median rent: $683 (33% own)
- Median household income: $49,640
- Top public schools: Hardin Intermediate School (grade C minus), Hardin High School (grade C minus), Hardin Middle School (grade C minus)
- Top private schools: Pretty Eagle Catholic School (grade unavailable), St. Charles Mission School (grade unavailable), Big Horn Valley Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Hardin (grade B), Pryor (grade B minus), Busby (grade C)

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#21. Broadwater County, Montana

- Population: 6,641
- Median home value: $265,700 (86% own)
- Median rent: $830 (14% own)
- Median household income: $60,244
- Top public schools: Broadwater High School (grade B), Cecelia Hazelton School (grade B minus), Townsend Junior High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Townsend (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade C+

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#20. Pondera County, Montana

- Population: 5,974
- Median home value: $149,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $746 (33% own)
- Median household income: $55,865
- Top public schools: Valier Junior High School (grade A), Meadowlark School (grade B+), Valier High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Conrad Christian School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Conrad (grade B minus), Valier (grade B minus), Heart Butte (grade C minus)

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#19. Madison County, Montana

- Population: 8,499
- Median home value: $320,800 (77% own)
- Median rent: $937 (23% own)
- Median household income: $56,410
- Top public schools: Sheridan Elementary School (grade A), Sheridan Junior High School (grade A minus), Ennis Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Sheridan (grade B), Ennis (grade B), Virginia City (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B minus

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#18. Stillwater County, Montana

- Population: 8,916
- Median home value: $276,500 (82% own)
- Median rent: $833 (18% own)
- Median household income: $72,906
- Top public schools: Columbus Elementary School (grade A minus), Columbus Middle School (grade B+), Rapelje High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Columbus (grade B), Reed Point (grade B minus), Absarokee (grade C+)
- Top places to live: grade C+

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#17. Park County, Montana

- Population: 17,072
- Median home value: $329,500 (69% own)
- Median rent: $833 (31% own)
- Median household income: $58,510
- Top public schools: Shields Valley Junior High School (grade A), Gardiner Elementary School (grade A), Shields Valley Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Mary's Catholic School (grade unavailable), Montessori Island School (grade unavailable), The Thomas More Schools (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Livingston (grade B), Gardiner (grade B+), Wilsall (grade B minus)

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#16. Fergus County, Montana

- Population: 11,464
- Median home value: $150,200 (67% own)
- Median rent: $757 (33% own)
- Median household income: $52,941
- Top public schools: Lewis & Clark School (grade A minus), Lewistown Junior High School (grade B+), Garfield School (grade B+)
- Top private schools: Lewistown (grade B minus), Denton (grade B), Roy (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade B minus

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#15. Silver Bow County, Montana

- Population: 35,017
- Median home value: $164,600 (70% own)
- Median rent: $708 (30% own)
- Median household income: $50,331
- Top public schools: Whittier School (grade B+), Hillcrest Elementary School (grade B+), Margaret Leary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: Butte Central Catholic High School (grade B), Butte Central Catholic Grade School (grade unavailable), Silverbow Montessori School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Butte (grade B), Walkerville (grade C+)

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#14. Blaine County, Montana

- Population: 7,051
- Median home value: $117,000 (62% own)
- Median rent: $532 (38% own)
- Median household income: $50,847
- Top public schools: Chinook High School (grade B), Chinook Junior High School (grade B), Turner Elementary School (grade C+)
- Top private schools: White Clay Immersion School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Chinook (grade B), Harlem (grade B minus), Hays (grade C+)

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#13. Teton County, Montana

- Population: 6,173
- Median home value: $191,300 (76% own)
- Median rent: $870 (24% own)
- Median household income: $60,431
- Top public schools: Fairfield Elementary School (grade A), Fairfield Junior High School (grade A), Greenfield Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Fairfield Mennonite School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Fairfield (grade B+), Choteau (grade B), Dutton (grade C+)

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#12. Rosebud County, Montana

- Population: 8,464
- Median home value: $139,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $632 (34% own)
- Median household income: $59,339
- Top public schools: Forsyth Elementary School (grade A minus), Forsyth Junior High School (grade B), Forsyth High School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Labre Indian Catholic School (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: Forsyth (grade B), Colstrip (grade B), Ashland (grade C+)

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#11. Jefferson County, Montana

- Population: 12,057
- Median home value: $304,300 (84% own)
- Median rent: $798 (16% own)
- Median household income: $72,500
- Top public schools: Cardwell School (grade A+), Clancy Junior High School (grade A), Clancy Elementary School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Montana City (grade B+), Clancy (grade B), Boulder (grade B)
- Top places to live: grade B

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#10. Yellowstone County, Montana

- Population: 163,593
- Median home value: $253,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $963 (31% own)
- Median household income: $65,656
- Top public schools: Broadview Elementary School (grade A), Canyon Creek Junior High School (grade A minus), Meadowlark School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Billings Central Catholic High School (grade A), Billings Christian Schools (grade B), Trinity Lutheran School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Billings (grade B), Lockwood (grade B minus), Laurel (grade B minus)

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#9. Beaverhead County, Montana

- Population: 9,391
- Median home value: $249,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $732 (33% own)
- Median household income: $51,048
- Top public schools: Dillon Middle School (grade A minus), Parkview School (grade A minus), Beaverhead County High School (grade B minus)
- Top private schools: Dillon (grade B), Lima (grade C+)
- Top places to live: grade B+

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#8. Flathead County, Montana

- Population: 103,400
- Median home value: $333,700 (75% own)
- Median rent: $910 (25% own)
- Median household income: $63,582
- Top public schools: Creston School (grade A+), West Glacier School (grade A), Somers Middle School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Stillwater Christian School (grade B), St. Matthew's School (grade unavailable), Trinity Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Whitefish (grade A minus), Kalispell (grade B), Evergreen (grade B minus)

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#7. Lake County, Montana

- Population: 31,030
- Median home value: $289,300 (72% own)
- Median rent: $768 (28% own)
- Median household income: $53,154
- Top public schools: Charlo Junior High School (grade A), Charlo Elementary School (grade A), Polson Middle School (7-8) (grade B)
- Top private schools: Mission Valley Christian Academy (grade B), Pinehaven Christian Children's Ranch (grade unavailable), Nkwusm Salish Language School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Polson (grade B), Rollins (grade A minus), Woods Bay (grade B+)

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#6. Hill County, Montana

- Population: 16,297
- Median home value: $168,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $662 (33% own)
- Median household income: $56,840
- Top public schools: Lincoln-McKinley School (grade B+), Havre Middle School (grade B), North Star Elementary School (grade B)
- Top private schools: St. Jude Thaddeus School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Havre (grade B), Rudyard (grade B), Beaver Creek (grade C minus)

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#5. Missoula County, Montana

- Population: 117,379
- Median home value: $327,100 (58% own)
- Median rent: $972 (42% own)
- Median household income: $61,423
- Top public schools: De Smet Junior High School (grade A), Hawthorne Elementary School (grade A minus), Rattlesnake Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Loyola Sacred Heart High School (grade A minus), Valley Christian School (grade B+), St. Joseph School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Missoula (grade B+), Orchard Homes (grade B), Lolo (grade B)

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#4. Chouteau County, Montana

- Population: 5,896
- Median home value: $157,700 (67% own)
- Median rent: $404 (33% own)
- Median household income: $48,237
- Top public schools: Fort Benton Elementary School (grade A), Highwood Middle School (grade A), Highwood School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Fort Benton (grade A minus), Big Sandy (grade B+), Highwood (grade B minus)
- Top places to live: grade B+

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#3. Cascade County, Montana

- Population: 84,178
- Median home value: $194,000 (67% own)
- Median rent: $790 (33% own)
- Median household income: $56,377
- Top public schools: Belt Elementary School (grade A), Belt Junior High School (grade A minus), Cascade School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: Great Falls Central Catholic High School (grade B+), Foothills Community Christian School (grade B+), Malmstrom Air Force Base Child Development Center (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Great Falls (grade B), Sand Coulee (grade B), Black Eagle (grade B)

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#2. Lewis and Clark County, Montana

- Population: 70,340
- Median home value: $280,600 (71% own)
- Median rent: $905 (29% own)
- Median household income: $66,486
- Top public schools: Hawthorne Elementary School (grade A minus), Jefferson Elementary School (grade A minus), Lincoln Elementary School (grade A minus)
- Top private schools: St. Andrew School (grade B+), Helena Christian School (grade B+), First Lutheran School (grade unavailable)
- Top places to live: Helena (grade A minus), East Helena (grade B), Lincoln (grade C+)

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#1. Gallatin County, Montana

- Population: 116,725
- Median home value: $435,400 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,212 (38% own)
- Median household income: $76,208
- Top public schools: Amsterdam School (grade A), Bozeman High School (grade A), Morning Star School (grade A)
- Top private schools: Mount Ellis Academy (grade A), Petra Academy (grade B+), Manhattan Christian School (grade B+)
- Top places to live: Bozeman (grade A), Four Corners (grade A minus), King Arthur Park (grade B+)

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