Cost of Living in Deer Lodge 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 Deer Lodge County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Deer Lodge County ranks #889 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 28%)
Sourced county brief
Deer Lodge County Monthly Owner Costs Near State Average
The median monthly owner cost for all owner-occupied units in Deer Lodge County was $846. This is slightly above the Montana unweighted county mean of $842. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $696 per month, which sits below the state unweighted county mean of $842. The official GRAPI (median gross rent as a percentage of household income) was 26.1%. This B25071 metric is 2.0 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean of 24.1%. Renter households had a median income of $40,179. The median home value was $231,700, compared to the Montana unweighted county mean of $276,877. 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: Deer Lodge County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.1% of renter household income in Deer Lodge 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 $696 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $846. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $27,840 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. Deer Lodge County's $696 median is 17.3% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Deer Lodge County
Rent Burden
14.5%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,342
per month
Owner Cost Burden
17.6%
of gross income
The median home in Deer Lodge County may be a stretch
Median home value is $231,700. Estimated monthly cost: $1,850 vs. your max of $1,342.
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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