Cost of Living in Richland 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 Richland County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Richland County ranks #1,700 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 46%)
Sourced county brief
Richland County Renter Median Income Reaches $55,197
In Richland County, the median renter-household income was $55,197 during the 2020-2024 period. The median gross rent in the county was $917 per month, which is above the Montana unweighted county mean of $842. The official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 21.0%. This percentage is 3.1 percentage points lower than the Montana unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 24.1%. Among homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units was $836, slightly below the state unweighted county mean of $842. The median home value in the county was estimated at $263,000, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $276,877. These data points provide a housing cost snapshot based on federal survey estimates for the five-year period ending in 2024. 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: Richland County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 21.0% of renter household income in Richland 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 $917 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $836. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $36,680 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. Richland County's $917 median is 8.9% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Richland County
Rent Burden
15.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,705
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.7%
of gross income
The median home in Richland County may be a stretch
Median home value is $263,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,100 vs. your max of $1,705.
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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