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Buying a home in Lincoln County, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Lincoln County is worth about $296,500, 21% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 11% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,615 a year in property taxes, about 0.54% of their home's value, lower than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $47,143 a year, so the median home costs 6.3 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 78% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 41% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lincoln County at a glance

Lincoln County Montana U.S.
Median home value $296,500 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,615 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.54% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $47,143 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 78% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 41% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,453 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.1% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $762 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.5% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1981 1980
Vacant homes 17.5% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 21,175 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lincoln County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lincoln County home of $296,500 with 20% down costs about $1,853 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,347, 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 $79,398 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 47% of the median Lincoln County household income of $47,143; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $176,000.

The median rent here is $762 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,091 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$59,300
Loan amount$237,200
Principal and interest$1,596
Property taxes (0.54% a year)$133
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$124
PMI$0
Total per month$1,853

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$10,378
Loan amount$291,130
Principal and interest$1,958
Property taxes (0.54% a year)$133
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$124
FHA mortgage insurance$131
Total per month$2,347

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Questions about home buying in Lincoln County

What is the median home value in Lincoln County?

About $296,500 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lincoln County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,615 a year, which is about 0.54% 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 Lincoln County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,853 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $79,398 a year.

More about Lincoln 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