The Town FilesBig Sky, Montana
Community in Gallatin County · population 3,591 (2020 Census) · spans 2 counties
- Median home
- $1,137,900
- Household income
- $138,805
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 78°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.4
Big Sky is a community of 3,591 people in Gallatin County, Montana. The median home is worth $1,137,900, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for a vacation home than 99% of Montana towns, better for young professionals than 97% of Montana towns, more upscale than 97% of Montana towns.
How Big Sky ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Big Sky is worth $1,137,900, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 8.2 times the median household income of $138,805, which is more affordable than 7% of Montana towns. Median rent is $877 a month. 84.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Big Sky | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $1,137,900 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $877 | $893 |
| Median household income | $138,805 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 8.2× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 84.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 58.7% | — |
Who lives in Big Sky
| People | Big Sky | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.7% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 13.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.1% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 1.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.1% | — |
| Work from home | 26.1% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 18.8 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 86.6% |
Weather in Big Sky
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 23.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.9 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 1 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 258 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Big Sky since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on August 9, 2008.
Severe weather in Gallatin County since 1996
Gallatin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2020 | Fire | FM-5346: Bridger Foothills Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3253: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| July 7, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1385: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Gallatin County
Gallatin County had 73,217 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,213 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Big Sky itself the ACS puts it at 1.4%.
Public schools in Big Sky
3 public schools with 396 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ophir Elementary School | PK-5 | 195 | 13.0 |
| Lone Peak High School | 9-12 | 113 | 12.6 |
| Ophir 7-8 | 6-8 | 88 | 9.8 |
Towns near Big Sky
- Four Corners, MT29.5 mi · 5,901 people · home $648,400
Big Sky questions
Is Big Sky, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Big Sky scores better for retirees than 68% of Montana towns and quieter than 41%. 15.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.4).
How much does a house cost in Big Sky?
The median owner-occupied home in Big Sky is valued at $1,137,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $138,805, so homes cost about 8.2 times income. Median rent is $877 a month.
What is the weather like in Big Sky?
July highs average 77.6°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 23.3 inches of precipitation a year and 47.9 inches of snow.
Does Big Sky get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Big Sky in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)