Cost of Living in Sanders 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 Sanders County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Sanders County ranks #851 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 27%)
Sourced county brief
Sanders County Median GRAPI Reaches 36.5 Percent
In Sanders County, the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 36.5%. This measure is 12.4 percentage points higher than the Montana unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 24.1%. The median renter-household income was recorded at $28,304, while the median gross rent for the county was estimated at $820 per month. The monthly rent figure is below the state unweighted county mean of $842. Among homeowners, the median selected monthly owner cost for all units was $655, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $842. The median home value in the county was $359,000, positioned above the state unweighted county mean of $276,877. These data points provide a statistical view of housing expenditures and income by tenure within the county. 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: Sanders County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 36.5% of renter household income in Sanders 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 $820 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $655. 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. Sanders 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 Sanders County
Rent Burden
17.1%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,341
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.7%
of gross income
The median home in Sanders County may be a stretch
Median home value is $359,000. Estimated monthly cost: $2,866 vs. your max of $1,341.
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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