Counties with the oldest homes in Montana

Written by:
September 25, 2025
Kristi Blokhin // Shutterstock

Counties with the oldest homes in Montana

There's an undeniable charm that comes with pre-World War II American architecture, characterized by high ceilings, crown molding, hardwood floors, and ornate details. In fact, 11.4% of all housing units in America were built in 1939 or before, showing the popularity of the preservation of these units. Owning a piece of history can sometimes come with a cost: Many old homes come with asbestos, lead piping, knob-and-tube wiring, and other outdated building styles that can rack up a hefty price tag to modernize. However, with more and more modernized pre-war homes on the market, generally located just outside bustling downtown metros, investing in property that has withstood the test of time is an attractive prospect.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties in Montana with the oldest homes using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by median year the structure was built according to 2023 5-year estimates. Ties broken by the highest percentage of homes built before 1939.

The country's domestic architecture is perhaps best characterized by a rugged individualism as opposed to the hybridization of disparate architectural elements. As Maya Angelou once perceptively observed, "the ache for home lives in all of us," a phrase that has meant very different things to different people.

Modest or palatial, there is no shortage of noteworthy homes in the U.S. Log cabins constructed by industrious pioneers have dotted the landscape alongside traditional Native American dwellings ever since immigrant Swedes introduced them to the New World in 1638. The unprecedented personal fortunes amassed by the so-called "Robber Barons" at the close of the 19th century gave way to the construction of a staggering number of Gilded Age estates.

The ravages of time spared neither the sumptuous nor the humble. Stately mansions, often prohibitively costly to maintain in the modern era, were frequently neglected; simple structures were forgotten, discarded by their owners, and damaged by natural elements. However, the tireless efforts of architectural preservationists and local historical societies have saved many of these homes from demolition, leading to their inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places and thereby safeguarding them for future generations.

Keep reading to learn more about which counties in Montana have the oldest homes.

#56. Broadwater County

- Median year homes built: 1999
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.8% (343 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.7% (55 homes)
- Total homes built: 3,164

#55. Gallatin County

- Median year homes built: 1997
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.4% (4,111 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.5% (1,411 homes)
- Total homes built: 55,589

#54. Madison County

- Median year homes built: 1993
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.4% (731 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (46 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,405

#53. Ravalli County

- Median year homes built: 1990
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.4% (2,191 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (281 homes)
- Total homes built: 21,098

#52. Flathead County

- Median year homes built: 1989
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.3% (3,707 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.0% (1,028 homes)
- Total homes built: 50,948

#51. Sanders County

- Median year homes built: 1989
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.9% (675 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.1% (76 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,789

#50. Jefferson County

- Median year homes built: 1989
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.3% (556 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (80 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,388

#49. Lake County

- Median year homes built: 1986
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.2% (1,511 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (142 homes)
- Total homes built: 16,457

#48. Stillwater County

- Median year homes built: 1985
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.5% (628 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (55 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,657

#47. Missoula County

- Median year homes built: 1984
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.7% (5,968 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (653 homes)
- Total homes built: 56,008

#46. Yellowstone County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 7.6% (5,608 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 2.2% (1,604 homes)
- Total homes built: 73,363

#45. Lincoln County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 8.8% (972 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.3% (138 homes)
- Total homes built: 10,991

#44. Mineral County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 9.4% (242 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (10 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,569

#43. Lewis and Clark County

- Median year homes built: 1982
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.7% (4,290 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (619 homes)
- Total homes built: 33,837

#42. Richland County

- Median year homes built: 1981
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.6% (594 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.8% (42 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,590

#41. Beaverhead County

- Median year homes built: 1980
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.2% (757 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (89 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,973

#40. Rosebud County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.5% (434 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 3,785

#39. Sweet Grass County

- Median year homes built: 1979
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.4% (412 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,929

#38. Fallon County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.3% (207 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,451

#37. Park County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.8% (1,999 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (141 homes)
- Total homes built: 9,597

#36. Petroleum County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.0% (65 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.4% (4 homes)
- Total homes built: 295

#35. Carbon County

- Median year homes built: 1978
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.1% (1,483 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.2% (79 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,431

#34. Powder River County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.0% (100 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 997

#33. Granite County

- Median year homes built: 1977
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 21.5% (561 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (24 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,605

#32. Big Horn County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.0% (452 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (15 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,533

#31. Garfield County

- Median year homes built: 1976
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.8% (118 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (3 homes)
- Total homes built: 746

#30. Glacier County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.0% (642 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (38 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,346

#29. Musselshell County

- Median year homes built: 1975
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.6% (631 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (11 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,677

#28. Roosevelt County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 10.9% (443 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (1 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,058

#27. Carter County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 15.8% (126 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 799

#26. Meagher County

- Median year homes built: 1973
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 28.2% (412 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (5 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,460

#25. Hill County

- Median year homes built: 1972
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 12.7% (920 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 7,232

#24. Blaine County

- Median year homes built: 1972
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.0% (566 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (41 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,824

#23. Phillips County

- Median year homes built: 1971
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 23.9% (535 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,235

#22. Golden Valley County

- Median year homes built: 1971
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 30.9% (146 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.7% (8 homes)
- Total homes built: 473

#21. Dawson County

- Median year homes built: 1970
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 13.5% (593 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,377

#20. Treasure County

- Median year homes built: 1970
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 20.0% (96 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 479

#19. Cascade County

- Median year homes built: 1969
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 14.5% (5,691 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.9% (356 homes)
- Total homes built: 39,248

#18. Toole County

- Median year homes built: 1969
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 18.9% (440 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.1% (3 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,323

#17. Judith Basin County

- Median year homes built: 1968
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.7% (329 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.7% (9 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,233

#16. Chouteau County

- Median year homes built: 1967
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.5% (732 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (9 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,868

#15. Wibaux County

- Median year homes built: 1967
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 32.0% (191 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.5% (9 homes)
- Total homes built: 596

#14. Fergus County

- Median year homes built: 1967
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 32.4% (1,949 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (19 homes)
- Total homes built: 6,008

#13. Valley County

- Median year homes built: 1966
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 11.0% (467 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (2 homes)
- Total homes built: 4,253

#12. McCone County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 17.5% (189 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,082

#11. Powell County

- Median year homes built: 1965
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.7% (585 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 1.8% (54 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,969

#10. Liberty County

- Median year homes built: 1964
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 19.7% (164 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 832

#9. Pondera County

- Median year homes built: 1964
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 22.3% (615 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (6 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,753

#8. Custer County

- Median year homes built: 1963
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.3% (1,519 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (23 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,770

#7. Sheridan County

- Median year homes built: 1962
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 27.3% (560 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.4% (8 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,049

#6. Teton County

- Median year homes built: 1961
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 25.6% (753 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 2,942

#5. Wheatland County

- Median year homes built: 1960
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 32.9% (381 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (3 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,159

#4. Prairie County

- Median year homes built: 1958
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 30.4% (203 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 667

#3. Daniels County

- Median year homes built: 1957
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 26.4% (298 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.0% (0 homes)
- Total homes built: 1,130

#2. Silver Bow County

- Median year homes built: 1956
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 37.5% (6,516 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.2% (40 homes)
- Total homes built: 17,396

#1. Deer Lodge County

- Median year homes built: 1954
- Homes built 1939 or earlier: 36.1% (1,987 homes)
- Homes built since 2000: 0.3% (17 homes)
- Total homes built: 5,506

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