Cost of Living in Valley 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 Valley County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Valley County ranks #1,078 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 34%)
Sourced county brief
Valley County Median Home Value Reported at $198,400
The median home value in Valley County was $198,400, falling $78,477 below the Montana unweighted county mean of $276,877. Median gross rent was estimated at $767 per month, which is lower than the state unweighted county mean of $842. The official GRAPI was 26.6%, a figure 2.5 percentage points above the Montana unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 24.1%. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $822, while the state unweighted county mean for such costs was $842. Median renter-household income was $37,547. This analysis utilizes the official ACS B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income to assess the relationship between rent and earnings. 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: Valley County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.6% of renter household income in Valley 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 $767 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $822. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $30,680 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. Valley County's $767 median is 8.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Valley County
Rent Burden
12.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,673
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.8%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Valley County
Median home value is $198,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,584 vs. your max of $1,673.
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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