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Buying a home in Ekalaka, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Ekalaka is worth about $123,400, 67% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 63% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $658 a year in property taxes, about 0.53% of their home's value, lower than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $30,000 a year, so the median home costs 4.1 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 9% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Ekalaka at a glance

Ekalaka Montana U.S.
Median home value $123,400 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $658 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.53% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $30,000 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 66% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 9% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $850 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 15.0% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $646 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 27.0% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1972 1981 1980
Vacant homes 32.0% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 276 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Ekalaka

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Ekalaka home of $123,400 with 20% down costs about $770 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $976, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $33,001 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 31% of the median Ekalaka household income of $30,000; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $112,000.

The median rent here is $646 a month, so owning the median home costs about $124 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$24,680
Loan amount$98,720
Principal and interest$664
Property taxes (0.53% a year)$54
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$51
PMI$0
Total per month$770

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$4,319
Loan amount$121,165
Principal and interest$815
Property taxes (0.53% a year)$54
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$51
FHA mortgage insurance$55
Total per month$976

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Questions about home buying in Ekalaka

What is the median home value in Ekalaka?

About $123,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Ekalaka?

Homeowners pay a median $658 a year, which is about 0.53% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Ekalaka?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $770 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $33,001 a year.

More about Ekalaka

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data