Home / Home Buying by state / Montana / Garfield County

Buying a home in Garfield County, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Garfield County is worth about $169,900, 55% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 49% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,052 a year in property taxes, about 0.62% of their home's value, lower than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $69,583 a year, so the median home costs 2.4 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 72% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 29% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Garfield County at a glance

Garfield County Montana U.S.
Median home value $169,900 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,052 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.62% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $69,583 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 72% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 29% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,488 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 23.5% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $725 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 19.5% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1978 1981 1980
Vacant homes 40.8% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 1,094 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Garfield County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Garfield County home of $169,900 with 20% down costs about $1,073 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,356, 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 $45,982 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 19% of the median Garfield County household income of $69,583; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $257,000.

The median rent here is $725 a month, so owning the median home costs about $348 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$33,980
Loan amount$135,920
Principal and interest$914
Property taxes (0.62% a year)$88
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$71
PMI$0
Total per month$1,073

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$5,946
Loan amount$166,823
Principal and interest$1,122
Property taxes (0.62% a year)$88
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$71
FHA mortgage insurance$75
Total per month$1,356

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Garfield County

What is the median home value in Garfield County?

About $169,900 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Garfield County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,052 a year, which is about 0.62% 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 Garfield County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,073 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $45,982 a year.

More about Garfield County

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