Cost of Living in Powell 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 Powell County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Powell County ranks #1,593 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 49%)
Sourced county brief
Powell County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $936
Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units in Powell County were $936. This value is $94 above the Montana unweighted county mean of $842. The median home value for the 2020-2024 period was $306,500, which is higher than the state unweighted mean of $276,877. For renter-occupied households, the official Gross Rent as a Percentage of Household Income (GRAPI) was 21.1%. This median percentage is 3.0 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 24.1%. The median gross rent in the county was estimated at $820 per month, while the median renter-household income was $47,326. The median gross rent is lower than the Montana unweighted county mean of $842. These statistics are derived from ACS 5-Year Estimates and provide a static comparison of housing costs. 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: Powell County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.1% of renter household income in Powell 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 $820 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $936. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,800 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. Powell County's $820 median is 2.6% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Powell County
Rent Burden
14.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,562
per month
Owner Cost Burden
16.8%
of gross income
The median home in Powell County may be a stretch
Median home value is $306,500. Estimated monthly cost: $2,447 vs. your max of $1,562.
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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