The Town FilesHamilton, Montana
City in Ravalli County · population 4,659 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $310,000
- Household income
- $49,204
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 17 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 51.8
Hamilton is a city of 4,659 people in Ravalli County, Montana. The median home is worth $310,000, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Montana towns, better transit than 94% of Montana towns, hipper than 91% of Montana towns.
How Hamilton 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 Hamilton is worth $310,000, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 6.3 times the median household income of $49,204, which is more affordable than 22% of Montana towns. Median rent is $947 a month. 55.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Hamilton | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $310,000 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $947 | $893 |
| Median household income | $49,204 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 6.3× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 55.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1976 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Hamilton
| People | Hamilton | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.8 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 34.3% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 13.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.8% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.8% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 10.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.4% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 12.2 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.2% | 86.6% |
Weather in Hamilton
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.9°F. About 13.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 17.1 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 172 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on October 16, 1988 about 0.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on October 16, 1988.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 4, 2012.
Severe weather in Ravalli County since 1996
Ravalli County has been included in 13 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| August 17, 2017 | Fire | FM-5197: Lolo Peak Fire |
| August 1, 2016 | Fire | FM-5143: Roaring Lion Fire |
Jobs and pay in Ravalli County
Ravalli County had 13,757 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,992 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Hamilton itself the ACS puts it at 2%.
Public schools in Hamilton
4 public schools with 1,660 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton High School | 9-12 | 555 | 15.4 |
| Daly School | K-4 | 554 | 15.4 |
| Hamilton Middle School | 5-8 | 484 | 17.3 |
| Washington School | PK-K | 67 | 13.4 |
Hamilton questions
Is Hamilton, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Hamilton scores better for retirees than 55% of Montana towns and quieter than 39%. 34.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.8).
How much does a house cost in Hamilton?
The median owner-occupied home in Hamilton is valued at $310,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $49,204, so homes cost about 6.3 times income. Median rent is $947 a month.
What is the weather like in Hamilton?
July highs average 84.0°F and January lows 18.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.6 inches of precipitation a year and 17.1 inches of snow.
Does Hamilton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Hamilton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on October 16, 1988. 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)