The Town FilesMontana City, Montana
Community in Jefferson County · population 2,918 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $571,200
- Household income
- $129,755
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 40.3
Montana City is a community of 2,918 people in Jefferson County, Montana. The median home is worth $571,200, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for families than 99% of Montana towns, more upscale than 99% of Montana towns, more of a college town than 75% of Montana towns.
How Montana City 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 Montana City is worth $571,200, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $129,755, which is more affordable than 46% of Montana towns. Median rent is $2,077 a month. 97.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Montana City | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $571,200 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $2,077 | $893 |
| Median household income | $129,755 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 97.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1995 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Montana City
| People | Montana City | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.4% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 24.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44.1% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.8% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 12.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.9% | — |
| Work from home | 15.2% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 24.0 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.8% | 86.6% |
Weather in Montana City
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 11.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montana City since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 27, 1997 about 6.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 6, 1997.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2014 | Flood | DR-4172: Ice Jams And Flooding |
| August 29, 2012 | Fire | FM-5008: Nineteen Mile Fire |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 2,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,570 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Montana City itself the ACS puts it at 3.9%.
Towns near Montana City
- Helena, MT6.4 mi · 32,091 people · home $387,300
- Helena Valley Southeast, MT7.0 mi · 9,168 people · home $331,500
- Helena Valley West Central, MT11.1 mi · 8,670 people · home $367,200
- Helena Valley Northeast, MT12.6 mi · 3,813 people · home $576,700
- Helena Valley Northwest, MT15.4 mi · 4,705 people · home $404,200
Montana City questions
Is Montana City, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Montana City scores better for retirees than 65% of Montana towns and quieter than 51%. 16.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.3).
How much does a house cost in Montana City?
The median owner-occupied home in Montana City is valued at $571,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,755, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $2,077 a month.
What is the weather like in Montana City?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Montana City get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Montana City since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 27, 1997. 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)