Cost of Living in Blaine County, Montana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Blaine County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Blaine County ranks #145 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 5%)
Sourced county brief
Blaine County Median Gross Rent and Owner Cost Analysis
The median gross rent in Blaine County was estimated at $660 per month, which is $182 below the Montana unweighted county mean of $842. The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 17.3%, placing it 6.8 percentage points below the unweighted state county mean of 24.1%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $559, compared to the unweighted state mean of $842. The median home value in Blaine County was $155,500, while the unweighted county mean for the state was $276,877. Median renter-household income was $43,889. These statistics are based on the U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. The rent-to-income percentage is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate rather than a derived calculation. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Blaine County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 17.3% of renter household income in Blaine County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $660 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $559. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $26,400 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Montana unweighted mean of county median rents is $842 per month. Blaine County's $660 median is 21.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Blaine County
Rent Burden
12.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,512
per month
Owner Cost Burden
10.3%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Blaine County
Median home value is $155,500. Estimated monthly cost: $1,241 vs. your max of $1,512.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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