Best overall
McCone County
Overall score 78.4
Economy 71.9 / Affordability 60
State rankings
Best Counties to Live in Montana
Compare counties in Montana by affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and quality-of-life tradeoffs.
Use the county-size filter to compare large metro counties, mid-size counties, small counties, and rural areas separately. These modules are a starting point, then you can open the full rankings table or compare individual counties.
County size
County size helps compare places with similar scale. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Showing all 56 Montana counties
Use this state ranking
Compare counties in Montana
Put Montana counties side by side.
Estimate moving costs
Compare housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, insurance, and tax-pressure estimates.
Open Montana rankings
Open the full Montana ranking table with filters.
Explore on the map
Scan county scores geographically across the country.
Montana county rankings at a glance
Compact winners for common county-search priorities.
Best for families
Wibaux County
Family score 86.8
Schools 95.9 / Safety 99.8
Best value
Fallon County
Value score 78.8
Affordability 73.6 / Taxes 77.1
Most affordable
Prairie County
Affordability 81.6
Typical home $139,580
Best schools
Gallatin County
Schools 97.2
Safety 91.6 / Economy 91.8
Safest
Wibaux County
Safety 99.8
Schools 95.9 / Peace 87.5
Low taxes
Wibaux County
Taxes 95.8
Affordability 58.4 / Typical home $239,789
Peace & quiet
Custer County
Peace & Quiet 96.2
Density and built-environment signals
Top counties by category
Use these short lists to jump into the state rankings that match your priorities.
Best overall counties in Montana
View full- 1McCone County
Typical home $254,778
78.4
Overall
- 2Wibaux County
Typical home $239,789
77.9
Overall
- 3Fallon County
Typical home $192,157
76.7
Overall
- 4Powder River County
Typical home $299,261
73.3
Overall
- 5Carter County
Typical home $187,364
72.9
Overall
Best counties for families in Montana
View full- 1Wibaux County
Typical home $239,789
86.8
Family
- 2McCone County
Typical home $254,778
85.2
Family
- 3Fallon County
Typical home $192,157
80.7
Family
- 4Chouteau County
Typical home $314,698
78.6
Family
- 5Beaverhead County
Typical home $399,744
77.7
Family
Best value counties in Montana
View full- 1Fallon County
Typical home $192,157
78.8
Value
- 2Wibaux County
Typical home $239,789
77.2
Value
- 3McCone County
Typical home $254,778
74.7
Value
- 4Carter County
Typical home $187,364
72.6
Value
- 5Prairie County
Typical home $139,580
72.5
Value
Most affordable counties in Montana
View full- 1Prairie County
Typical home $139,580
81.6
Afford.
- 2Dawson County
Typical home $192,885
75.5
Afford.
- 3Valley County
Typical home $182,545
75.1
Afford.
- 4Roosevelt County
Typical home $143,771
74.2
Afford.
- 5Sheridan County
Typical home $176,230
74
Afford.
Best school counties in Montana
View full- 1Gallatin County
Typical home $697,179
97.2
Schools
- 2Granite County
Typical home $442,322
96.6
Schools
- 3Wibaux County
Typical home $239,789
95.9
Schools
- 4Beaverhead County
Typical home $399,744
94.7
Schools
- 5Chouteau County
Typical home $314,698
94.5
Schools
Lowest tax-score counties in Montana
View full- 1Wibaux County
Typical home $239,789
95.8
Taxes
- 2Garfield County
Typical home $337,113
92.8
Taxes
- 3Judith Basin County
Typical home $304,861
89.3
Taxes
- 4Sweet Grass County
Typical home $486,041
88.5
Taxes
- 5Madison County
Typical home $748,296
87.2
Taxes
Quietest counties in Montana
View full- 1Custer County
Typical home $246,185
96.2
Quiet
- 2Hill County
Typical home $231,658
95.5
Quiet
- 3Liberty County
Typical home $223,792
95.1
Quiet
- 4Lewis and Clark County
Typical home $462,125
94.7
Quiet
- 5Cascade County
Typical home $337,138
94.7
Quiet
Safest counties in Montana
View full- 1Wibaux County
Typical home $239,789
99.8
Safety
- 2McCone County
Typical home $254,778
98.8
Safety
- 3Fallon County
Typical home $192,157
98.3
Safety
- 4Beaverhead County
Typical home $399,744
97.7
Safety
- 5Pondera County
Typical home $260,328
97.7
Safety
Popular Montana county comparisons
Put two counties side by side before you narrow the search.
How to choose a county in Montana
The best county in Montana depends on what you need most. Families may care more about schools and safety, budget-focused movers may care more about affordability and taxes, and quiet-living households may care more about density and peace & quiet. Large counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so use the county-size filter to compare places with similar scale.
Best for different needs
Best overall counties in Montana
For best overall counties in Montana, McCone County, Wibaux County, and Fallon County stand out in this model because they combine several public-data signals instead of winning on only one category.
View this rankingBest counties for families in Montana
For families, Wibaux County, McCone County, and Fallon County score well in the family blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet.
View this rankingMost affordable counties in Montana
For affordability-focused movers, Prairie County, Dawson County, and Valley County may appeal because they score well on housing and income tradeoff signals in the current model.
View this rankingBest school counties in Montana
For school-first households, Gallatin County, Granite County, and Wibaux County lead the current school score, though families should still compare district-level details.
View this rankingBest low-tax counties in Montana
For lower tax-pressure searches, Wibaux County, Garfield County, and Judith Basin County score well on the tax model, but buyers should still check local property taxes and carrying costs.
View this rankingBest quiet counties in Montana
For quieter-living searches, Custer County, Hill County, and Liberty County stand out on peace & quiet signals such as density and built-environment indicators.
View this rankingWhat to watch before moving to Montana
Compare county scale carefully in Montana; large metro counties and rural counties can rank well for very different reasons.
Check town-level housing costs, commute patterns, school districts, and local services before making a final move decision.
Frequently asked questions about the best counties in Montana
What is the best county to live in Montana?
The best county depends on your priorities. In this ranking model, McCone County currently scores highest overall, but families, budget-focused movers, and quiet-living households may prefer different counties.
What is the best county in Montana for families?
Based on the family ranking blend of schools, safety, affordability, taxes, economy, and peace & quiet, Wibaux County stands out in this model.
What is the most affordable county in Montana?
Prairie County scores highly on affordability in this model, but buyers should still compare home prices, taxes, insurance, commute costs, and local job access.
How should I compare large and small counties?
Use the county-size filter. Large metro counties and small rural counties can rank well for very different reasons, so comparing similar county sizes usually gives a more realistic shortlist.
Are these rankings based on reviews?
No. These rankings use public-data signals such as affordability, schools, safety, taxes, economy, home values, and peace & quiet. Local reviews and personal visits should still be part of a final decision.
Which Montana counties score well for schools or taxes?
Gallatin County currently leads the school-score view, while Wibaux County stands out on the tax-score view. Use the rankings presets to compare those priorities separately.
All Montana counties
Showing all 56 Montana counties ranked by the default generated overall score.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home | Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McCone County FIPS 30055 | 78.4 | 71.9 | 60 | 92.4 | 98.8 | 77.9 | 86.6 | $254,778 | $69,375 |
| 2 | Wibaux County FIPS 30109 | 77.9 | 60.9 | 58.4 | 95.9 | 99.8 | 95.8 | 87.5 | $239,789 | $67,462 |
| 3 | Fallon County FIPS 30025 | 76.7 | 67.7 | 73.6 | 72.3 | 98.3 | 77.1 | 88.4 | $192,157 | $76,250 |
| 4 | Powder River County FIPS 30075 | 73.3 | 84.4 | 45 | 73.6 | 89.8 | 84.4 | 86.5 | $299,261 | $67,045 |
| 5 | Carter County FIPS 30011 | 72.9 | 77.9 | 61.5 | 77.9 | 65.1 | 83.9 | 86.2 | $187,364 | $54,167 |
| 6 | Jefferson County FIPS 30043 | 71.9 | 86.6 | 30.2 | 92.8 | 77.6 | 79.6 | 91.4 | $529,867 | $95,490 |
| 7 | Gallatin County FIPS 30031 | 70.4 | 91.8 | 12.6 | 97.2 | 91.6 | 65.4 | 91.6 | $697,179 | $93,528 |
| 8 | Petroleum County FIPS 30069 | 70.3 | 63.3 | 61.4 | 83.1 | 69.1 | 77.6 | 88.1 | $211,297 | $60,208 |
| 9 | Sheridan County FIPS 30091 | 69.7 | 70.2 | 74 | 59.2 | 73.4 | 63 | 89.4 | $176,230 | $70,147 |
| 10 | Prairie County FIPS 30079 | 69.6 | 68.1 | 81.6 | 55.1 | 74.9 | 53.6 | 91.4 | $139,580 | $51,250 |
| 11 | Dawson County FIPS 30021 | 69.3 | 68.4 | 75.5 | 53.4 | 88.6 | 47.6 | 91.1 | $192,885 | $71,334 |
| 12 | Fergus County FIPS 30027 | 69.1 | 64.1 | 38.8 | 91 | 86.9 | 73.7 | 94.4 | $314,071 | $63,706 |
| 13 | Richland County FIPS 30083 | 68.8 | 77.8 | 54.3 | 58 | 86.9 | 67.8 | 86.6 | $274,829 | $73,084 |
| 14 | Beaverhead County FIPS 30001 | 68.3 | 72.9 | 18.5 | 94.7 | 97.7 | 72.3 | 92 | $399,744 | $61,268 |
| 15 | Daniels County FIPS 30019 | 68.3 | 60.3 | 72.7 | 77.4 | 65.4 | 54.3 | 85.9 | $168,085 | $55,625 |
| 16 | Custer County FIPS 30017 | 67.9 | 75.6 | 62.8 | 45.2 | 93.8 | 54.3 | 96.2 | $246,185 | $70,605 |
| 17 | Lewis and Clark County FIPS 30049 | 67.1 | 80.8 | 23.9 | 86.5 | 84.7 | 61.4 | 94.7 | $462,125 | $78,237 |
| 18 | Chouteau County FIPS 30015 | 66.8 | 55.8 | 29.1 | 94.5 | 96.9 | 77.2 | 88.1 | $314,698 | $58,218 |
| 19 | Musselshell County FIPS 30065 | 66.6 | 56.7 | 61.2 | 65.9 | 78.7 | 78.5 | 85.6 | $241,728 | $58,920 |
| 20 | Judith Basin County FIPS 30045 | 66.3 | 59.7 | 36.3 | 77.5 | 91.1 | 89.3 | 85 | $304,861 | $59,000 |
| 21 | Yellowstone County FIPS 30111 | 66.1 | 78.2 | 37.9 | 67.4 | 85.7 | 60.9 | 92.6 | $393,359 | $76,570 |
| 22 | Teton County FIPS 30099 | 66 | 57.8 | 39.4 | 88.8 | 80.9 | 73.1 | 89.8 | $349,224 | $70,430 |
| 23 | Stillwater County FIPS 30095 | 65.1 | 69.3 | 26.4 | 87.9 | 77.8 | 77.9 | 82 | $485,137 | $84,732 |
| 24 | Liberty County FIPS 30051 | 64.8 | 48.8 | 56.2 | 89.9 | 60.5 | 67.4 | 95.1 | $223,792 | $57,857 |
| 25 | Park County FIPS 30067 | 64.6 | 70.4 | 14.5 | 89.1 | 91.5 | 73.8 | 88.3 | $601,228 | $70,047 |
| 26 | Flathead County FIPS 30029 | 64 | 77.4 | 15.3 | 91.7 | 74 | 68.8 | 90.9 | $639,812 | $73,925 |
| 27 | Missoula County FIPS 30063 | 64 | 78.2 | 12.2 | 91.3 | 89.5 | 50.7 | 93.5 | $570,556 | $75,598 |
| 28 | Toole County FIPS 30101 | 63.9 | 59 | 65.8 | 72.6 | 58.3 | 47.7 | 92.6 | $181,922 | $57,731 |
| 29 | Ravalli County FIPS 30081 | 63.7 | 75.2 | 18.8 | 76.7 | 84 | 78.1 | 88.6 | $596,540 | $71,283 |
| 30 | Broadwater County FIPS 30007 | 62.5 | 79.1 | 21 | 77.1 | 68.3 | 75.2 | 86.1 | $524,251 | $70,374 |
| 31 | Treasure County FIPS 30103 | 62.3 | 65.3 | 57.3 | 39.5 | 75.6 | 78.5 | 90.9 | $246,157 | $67,917 |
| 32 | Valley County FIPS 30105 | 62.2 | 62.8 | 75.1 | 42 | 74.4 | 37.2 | 87.9 | $182,545 | $71,695 |
| 33 | Powell County FIPS 30077 | 61.6 | 66.3 | 42.4 | 70.7 | 60.1 | 66.9 | 91.2 | $318,530 | $66,923 |
| 34 | Garfield County FIPS 30033 | 61.2 | 51.4 | 33.2 | 85.6 | 64.4 | 92.8 | 79.9 | $337,113 | $69,583 |
| 35 | Granite County FIPS 30039 | 60.8 | 50.2 | 14.6 | 96.6 | 94.4 | 72.7 | 76.4 | $442,322 | $59,265 |
| 36 | Madison County FIPS 30057 | 60.5 | 54.3 | 11.3 | 93.8 | 84.8 | 87.2 | 77.7 | $748,296 | $75,250 |
| 37 | Meagher County FIPS 30059 | 59.9 | 73.6 | 44.8 | 36.7 | 76.3 | 76.3 | 78.1 | $312,169 | $71,932 |
| 38 | Carbon County FIPS 30009 | 59.6 | 77.3 | 12.5 | 67.9 | 78.7 | 78.6 | 78.2 | $508,256 | $80,261 |
| 39 | Cascade County FIPS 30013 | 59 | 68.4 | 40 | 90 | 18.7 | 64 | 94.7 | $337,138 | $67,690 |
| 40 | Silver Bow County FIPS 30093 | 58.9 | 58.2 | 48.7 | 84.2 | 37.9 | 50.8 | 92.1 | $280,525 | $61,754 |
| 41 | Phillips County FIPS 30071 | 57.1 | 45 | 54.7 | 63.1 | 55.1 | 66.7 | 92.3 | $223,069 | $53,417 |
| 42 | Sanders County FIPS 30089 | 56.8 | 43.7 | 20.3 | 72.1 | 95 | 77.3 | 87.7 | $447,471 | $57,476 |
| 43 | Sweet Grass County FIPS 30097 | 56.8 | 73.5 | 16.2 | 81.3 | 32.7 | 88.5 | 86.8 | $486,041 | $77,000 |
| 44 | Mineral County FIPS 30061 | 56.1 | 54.1 | 29.3 | 44.8 | 94.3 | 78.6 | 85.2 | $382,886 | $63,450 |
| 45 | Golden Valley County FIPS 30037 | 55.9 | 46.7 | 54.7 | 33.7 | 76.2 | 83.6 | 80.1 | $248,587 | $58,333 |
| 46 | Wheatland County FIPS 30107 | 55 | 38.1 | 64.9 | 31 | 72.3 | 77.4 | 88.7 | $176,919 | $49,489 |
| 47 | Rosebud County FIPS 30087 | 53.9 | 45.1 | 48.7 | 30.5 | 81.6 | 74.4 | 93.4 | $224,632 | $49,914 |
| 48 | Lincoln County FIPS 30053 | 53.7 | 41.4 | 21 | 60.9 | 90 | 78.6 | 91.4 | $426,012 | $47,143 |
| 49 | Blaine County FIPS 30005 | 52.7 | 48.8 | 64.8 | 24.3 | 63.9 | 51.9 | 93.3 | $214,055 | $64,813 |
| 50 | Deer Lodge County FIPS 30023 | 50.4 | 59.7 | 41.6 | 20.1 | 64.9 | 68.5 | 90 | $286,576 | $57,527 |
| 51 | Hill County FIPS 30041 | 48.7 | 46.7 | 48.8 | 21.4 | 68.9 | 54.3 | 95.5 | $231,658 | $52,798 |
| 52 | Pondera County FIPS 30073 | 48.7 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 14.9 | 97.7 | 68.1 | 91 | $260,328 | $52,338 |
| 53 | Glacier County FIPS 30035 | 48.4 | 30.4 | 59.6 | 1.8 | 97.5 | 62.3 | 92.9 | $178,024 | $46,875 |
| 54 | Big Horn County FIPS 30003 | 46 | 41.5 | 61.1 | 0.6 | 59.7 | 66.7 | 91.8 | $217,738 | $58,750 |
| 55 | Roosevelt County FIPS 30085 | 45.4 | 37.3 | 74.2 | 1.6 | 51.3 | 50.9 | 88.2 | $143,771 | $57,063 |
| 56 | Lake County FIPS 30047 | 44.8 | 62.9 | 13.5 | 31 | 54 | 72.2 | 84.1 | $585,034 | $63,360 |