The Town FilesLibby, Montana
City in Lincoln County · population 2,775 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $257,400
- Household income
- $34,143
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 89°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 51.0
Libby is a city of 2,775 people in Lincoln County, Montana. The median home is worth $257,400, close to the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for cycling than 99% of Montana towns, more walkable than 98% of Montana towns, more vibrant than 96% of Montana towns.
How Libby 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 Libby is worth $257,400, close to the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 7.5 times the median household income of $34,143, which is more affordable than 11% of Montana towns. Median rent is $672 a month. 57.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Libby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $257,400 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $672 | $893 |
| Median household income | $34,143 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.5× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 57.0% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Libby
| People | Libby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.0 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 31.8% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.4% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 24.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 15.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.9% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 9.2 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.8% | 86.6% |
Weather in Libby
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 21.5°F. About 19.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 41 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Libby since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.00 inches on June 15, 2021.
Severe weather in Lincoln County since 1996
Lincoln County has been included in 14 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Flood | DR-4901: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| December 19, 2025 | Flood | EM-3630: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Lincoln County
Lincoln County had 6,260 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,582 a year. Unemployment was 5.2% in 2023; in Libby itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Libby
3 public schools with 1,140 students, about 15.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Libby Elementary School | PK-6 | 621 | 15.1 |
| Libby High School | 9-12 | 339 | 16.1 |
| Libby Middle School | 7-8 | 180 | 18.0 |
Libby questions
Is Libby, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Libby scores better for retirees than 43% of Montana towns and quieter than 13%. 31.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 51.0).
How much does a house cost in Libby?
The median owner-occupied home in Libby is valued at $257,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,143, so homes cost about 7.5 times income. Median rent is $672 a month.
What is the weather like in Libby?
July highs average 89.3°F and January lows 21.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 19.1 inches of precipitation a year and 48.2 inches of snow.
Does Libby get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Libby 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)