Cost of Living in Musselshell 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 Musselshell County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Musselshell County ranks #1,860 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 41%)
Sourced county brief
Musselshell County Official GRAPI Higher Than State Mean
Official GRAPI in Musselshell County was estimated at 32.8%, which is 8.7 percentage points above the Montana unweighted county mean of 24.1%. Median gross rent is $1,138, exceeding the state unweighted mean of $842. The median value of owner-occupied homes is $235,000, while the state unweighted mean is $276,877. Median monthly owner costs are $743, compared to a state unweighted mean of $842. Renter-household median income was estimated at $36,359. This summary uses official ACS table B25071 for the rent burden metric, representing median gross rent as a percentage of household income among renter-occupied housing units. 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: Musselshell County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 32.8% of renter household income in Musselshell County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,138 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $743. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $45,520 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. Musselshell County's $1,138 median is 35.1% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Musselshell County
Rent Burden
23.2%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,375
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.1%
of gross income
The median home in Musselshell County may be a stretch
Median home value is $235,000. Estimated monthly cost: $1,876 vs. your max of $1,375.
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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