Home / Home Buying by state / Montana / Phillips County

Buying a home in Phillips County, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Phillips County is worth about $197,600, 47% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 41% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,551 a year in property taxes, about 0.78% of their home's value, higher than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $53,417 a year, so the median home costs 3.7 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 35% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Phillips County at a glance

Phillips County Montana U.S.
Median home value $197,600 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,551 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.78% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $53,417 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 35% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,622 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 18.5% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $536 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 23.2% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1974 1981 1980
Vacant homes 21.0% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 4,221 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Phillips County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Phillips County home of $197,600 with 20% down costs about $1,274 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,603, 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 $54,608 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Phillips County household income of $53,417; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $193,000.

The median rent here is $536 a month, so owning the median home costs about $738 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$39,520
Loan amount$158,080
Principal and interest$1,063
Property taxes (0.78% a year)$128
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$82
PMI$0
Total per month$1,274

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$6,916
Loan amount$194,021
Principal and interest$1,305
Property taxes (0.78% a year)$128
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$82
FHA mortgage insurance$87
Total per month$1,603

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Phillips County

What is the median home value in Phillips County?

About $197,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Phillips County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,551 a year, which is about 0.78% 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 Phillips County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,274 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $54,608 a year.

More about Phillips 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