The Town FilesDillon, Montana
City in Beaverhead County · population 3,880 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $256,700
- Household income
- $61,134
- Jan low / Jul high
- 15° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 11 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 33.0
Dillon is a city of 3,880 people in Beaverhead County, Montana. The median home is worth $256,700, close to the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Montana towns, more of a college town than 100% of Montana towns, hipper than 99% of Montana towns.
How Dillon 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 Dillon is worth $256,700, close to the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $61,134, which is more affordable than 51% of Montana towns. Median rent is $864 a month. 55.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Dillon | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $256,700 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $864 | $893 |
| Median household income | $61,134 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.7% | — |
Who lives in Dillon
| People | Dillon | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.0% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.2% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.5% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 7.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.7% | — |
| Work from home | 3.1% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 16.7 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.5% | 86.6% |
Weather in Dillon
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 14.5°F. About 11.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 11.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 189 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dillon since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 19, 1962 about 6.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 12 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 1963.
Severe weather in Beaverhead County since 1996
Beaverhead County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 14, 2026 | Fire | FM-5671: Sand Creek 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 |
| August 30, 2000 | Fire | DR-1340: Wildfires |
Jobs and pay in Beaverhead County
Beaverhead County had 4,036 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,480 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Dillon itself the ACS puts it at 1.2%.
Public schools in Dillon
3 public schools with 1,119 students, about 16.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parkview School | PK-5 | 516 | 15.6 |
| Beaverhead Co High School | 9-12 | 336 | 16.0 |
| Dillon Middle School | 6-8 | 267 | 19.1 |
Dillon questions
Is Dillon, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Dillon scores better for retirees than 81% of Montana towns and quieter than 7%. 18.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.0).
How much does a house cost in Dillon?
The median owner-occupied home in Dillon is valued at $256,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,134, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is $864 a month.
What is the weather like in Dillon?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 14.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.3 inches of precipitation a year and 11.2 inches of snow.
Does Dillon get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Dillon since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 19, 1962. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- 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)