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Buying a home in Bigfork, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Bigfork is worth about $674,600, 80% above the Montana median of $375,800 and 2.0 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,383 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 $85,307 a year, so the median home costs 7.9 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 80% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 53% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Bigfork at a glance

Bigfork Montana U.S.
Median home value $674,600 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,383 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.50% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $85,307 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 80% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 53% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,196 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.3% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,016 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 30.8% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1995 1981 1980
Vacant homes 27.9% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 5,565 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Bigfork

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Bigfork home of $674,600 with 20% down costs about $4,193 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,316, 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 $179,684 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 59% of the median Bigfork household income of $85,307; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $320,000.

The median rent here is $1,016 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,177 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$134,920
Loan amount$539,680
Principal and interest$3,630
Property taxes (0.50% a year)$281
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$281
PMI$0
Total per month$4,193

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$23,611
Loan amount$662,381
Principal and interest$4,456
Property taxes (0.50% a year)$281
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$281
FHA mortgage insurance$298
Total per month$5,316

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Questions about home buying in Bigfork

What is the median home value in Bigfork?

About $674,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Bigfork?

Homeowners pay a median $3,383 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 Bigfork?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,193 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $179,684 a year.

More about Bigfork

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