Best counties to retire to in Montana
Best counties to retire to in Montana
Buyers and sellers of real estate alike—when asked what the three most essential considerations about a property are—will nearly always reply "location, location, location." While this answer is sometimes tongue-in-cheek, it is often quite accurate, and this reply perhaps applies to retirees more than any other demographic. Settling down after a lifetime of working and possibly raising a family calls for the perfect location: a spot where you can enjoy life with as few concerns as possible.
When seniors aged 65 or older decide where they want to live out their golden years, they consider particular factors, such as the cost of living, government services, health care facilities, weather and overall climate, crime rate, outdoor recreational activities, eating establishments, cultural and entertainment opportunities, and more.
To find the best counties to retire to in Montana based on these criteria, Stacker compiled a list using 2025 rankings from Niche, which ranks counties based on cost of living, health care access, recreation, weather, and more. You can read more about Niche's methodology here.
While location is critical as retirees determine where to spend their senior years enjoying favorite activities, it's a unique decision based on many preferences and needs. Whether it be bustling downtowns or access to parks, affordable home prices or cultural amenities like museums, retirees seeking to settle in a permanent spot are sure to find a private paradise in any of these counties recommended by Niche because, in the end, there is no place like home—no matter the location.
Read on to discover the best counties to retire to in Montana.
#25. Silver Bow County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 35,589
- Median household income: $57,504
- Median home value: $223,500
- Top places to live: Butte (B-), Walkerville (C+)
#24. Pondera County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (C+)
- Population: 6,012
- Median household income: $53,500
- Median home value: $179,200
- Top places to live: Conrad (B), Valier (C+), Heart Butte (D)
#23. Musselshell County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C+), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,068
- Median household income: $59,010
- Median home value: $221,200
- Top places to live: Roundup (C+), Camp Three (unavailable)
#22. Dawson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (B-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 8,874
- Median household income: $70,953
- Median home value: $187,400
- Top places to live: Glendive (B), West Glendive (C), Richey (C+)
#21. Yellowstone County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 167,340
- Median household income: $74,400
- Median home value: $317,600
- Top places to live: Billings (B), Laurel (B-), Lockwood (C+)
#20. Valley County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (C)
- Population: 7,540
- Median household income: $64,515
- Median home value: $198,600
- Top places to live: Glasgow (B-), Nashua (B-), Fort Peck (C+)
#19. Stillwater County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 9,052
- Median household income: $81,503
- Median home value: $355,600
- Top places to live: Columbus (C+), Absarokee (C+), Reed Point (C)
#18. Cascade County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 84,601
- Median household income: $66,203
- Median home value: $243,300
- Top places to live: Great Falls (B), Belt (B), Fort Shaw (B)
#17. Flathead County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (C), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 108,445
- Median household income: $71,327
- Median home value: $467,700
- Top places to live: Whitefish (B+), Evergreen (B-), Kalispell (B-)
#16. Powell County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 7,029
- Median household income: $63,432
- Median home value: $255,700
- Top places to live: Deer Lodge (C+), Elliston (C-)
#15. Beaverhead County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 9,590
- Median household income: $58,072
- Median home value: $282,000
- Top places to live: Dillon (B+), Lima (C)
#14. Broadwater County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 7,310
- Median household income: $63,636
- Median home value: $364,800
- Top places to live: Townsend (C+)
#13. Jefferson County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 12,501
- Median household income: $76,576
- Median home value: $408,000
- Top places to live: Boulder (B+), Clancy (B+), Montana City (B)
#12. Custer County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,938
- Median household income: $63,585
- Median home value: $204,200
- Top places to live: Miles City (B-)
#11. Chouteau County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (C+), cost of living (B), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 5,888
- Median household income: $56,927
- Median home value: $185,100
- Top places to live: Fort Benton (B+), Geraldine (B), Big Sandy (B-)
#10. Park County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 17,484
- Median household income: $66,607
- Median home value: $429,700
- Top places to live: Livingston (B), Gardiner (B), Emigrant (B-)
#9. Lewis and Clark County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 72,580
- Median household income: $74,543
- Median home value: $358,200
- Top places to live: Helena (B+), East Helena (B-), Augusta (C+)
#8. Madison County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 8,975
- Median household income: $67,420
- Median home value: $440,500
- Top places to live: Sheridan (B), Ennis (B-), Virginia City (C+)
#7. Lake County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B-), outdoor activities (A)
- Population: 32,073
- Median household income: $61,965
- Median home value: $369,200
- Top places to live: Polson (B-), Woods Bay (A-), St. Ignatius (B-)
#6. Carbon County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 10,877
- Median household income: $71,017
- Median home value: $379,300
- Top places to live: Bearcreek (B), Joliet (B-), Red Lodge (B-)
#5. Lincoln County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B), outdoor activities (B+)
- Population: 20,656
- Median household income: $47,018
- Median home value: $258,700
- Top places to live: Libby (C), Trego (B-), Eureka (C+)
#4. Ravalli County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C-), weather (B), outdoor activities (A-)
- Population: 45,807
- Median household income: $71,323
- Median home value: $435,000
- Top places to live: Hamilton (B-), Florence (B-), Pinesdale (B-)
#3. Sanders County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 12,936
- Median household income: $54,035
- Median home value: $323,800
- Top places to live: Thompson Falls (B-), Dixon (C+), Plains (C)
#2. Fergus County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B-), cost of living (C+), weather (C+), outdoor activities (B-)
- Population: 11,581
- Median household income: $59,731
- Median home value: $202,700
- Top places to live: Lewistown (C+), Winifred (B-), Roy (C+)
#1. Teton County
- Niche grades: good for retirees (B), cost of living (C+), weather (B), outdoor activities (B)
- Population: 6,291
- Median household income: $67,766
- Median home value: $235,500
- Top places to live: Fairfield (B+), Choteau (B), Power (B-)
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
