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Buying a home in Musselshell County, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Musselshell County is worth about $235,000, 37% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 29% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,287 a year in property taxes, about 0.55% of their home's value, lower than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $58,920 a year, so the median home costs 4.0 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 85% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 43% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Musselshell County at a glance

Musselshell County Montana U.S.
Median home value $235,000 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,287 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.55% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $58,920 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 85% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 43% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,382 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.8% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,138 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.8% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1975 1981 1980
Vacant homes 19.3% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 5,152 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Musselshell County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Musselshell County home of $235,000 with 20% down costs about $1,470 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,862, 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 $63,014 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 30% of the median Musselshell County household income of $58,920; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $220,000.

The median rent here is $1,138 a month, so owning the median home costs about $332 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$47,000
Loan amount$188,000
Principal and interest$1,265
Property taxes (0.55% a year)$108
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$98
PMI$0
Total per month$1,470

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$8,225
Loan amount$230,744
Principal and interest$1,552
Property taxes (0.55% a year)$108
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$98
FHA mortgage insurance$104
Total per month$1,862

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Questions about home buying in Musselshell County

What is the median home value in Musselshell County?

About $235,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Musselshell County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,287 a year, which is about 0.55% 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 Musselshell County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,470 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $63,014 a year.

More about Musselshell 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