The typical owner-occupied home in Lewis and Clark County is worth about $393,500, 5% above the Montana median of $375,800 and 18% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,113 a year in property taxes, about 0.79% of their home's value, higher than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $78,237 a year, so the median home costs 5.0 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 70% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 61% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Lewis and Clark County at a glance
| Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $393,500 | $375,800 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $3,113 | $2,693 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.79% | 0.72% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $78,237 | $72,509 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 70% | 69% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 61% | 55% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,883 | $1,798 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 21.5% | 21.9% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,102 | $1,081 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 25.9% | 27.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1982 | 1981 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 8.4% | 13.2% | 10.1% |
| Population | 73,464 | 1,116,875 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Lewis and Clark County
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lewis and Clark County home of $393,500 with 20% down costs about $2,541 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $3,196, 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 $108,887 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 39% of the median Lewis and Clark County household income of $78,237; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $283,000.
The median rent here is $1,102 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,439 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $78,700 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $314,800 |
| Principal and interest | $2,118 |
| Property taxes (0.79% a year) | $259 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $164 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,541 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $13,772 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $386,373 |
| Principal and interest | $2,599 |
| Property taxes (0.79% a year) | $259 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $164 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $174 |
| Total per month | $3,196 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Lewis and Clark County
What is the median home value in Lewis and Clark County?
About $393,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Lewis and Clark County?
Homeowners pay a median $3,113 a year, which is about 0.79% 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 Lewis and Clark County?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,541 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $108,887 a year.
More about Lewis and Clark County
- Mortgage Refinance in Lewis and Clark County
- Debt Relief in Lewis and Clark County
- Home Equity Loans in Lewis and Clark County
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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