Home / Home Buying by state / Montana / Judith Basin County / Stanford

Buying a home in Stanford, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Stanford is worth about $207,800, 45% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 38% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,040 a year in property taxes, about 0.50% of their home's value, lower than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $56,875 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 85% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 35% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Stanford at a glance

Stanford Montana U.S.
Median home value $207,800 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,040 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.50% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $56,875 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 85% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 35% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,139 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 20.0% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $850 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 17.5% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1954 1981 1980
Vacant homes 22.9% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 268 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Stanford

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Stanford home of $207,800 with 20% down costs about $1,291 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,638, 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 $55,349 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 27% of the median Stanford household income of $56,875; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $214,000.

The median rent here is $850 a month, so owning the median home costs about $441 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$41,560
Loan amount$166,240
Principal and interest$1,118
Property taxes (0.50% a year)$87
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$87
PMI$0
Total per month$1,291

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,273
Loan amount$204,036
Principal and interest$1,373
Property taxes (0.50% a year)$87
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$87
FHA mortgage insurance$92
Total per month$1,638

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Stanford

What is the median home value in Stanford?

About $207,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Stanford?

Homeowners pay a median $1,040 a year, which is about 0.50% 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 Stanford?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,291 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $55,349 a year.

More about Stanford

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