Home / Home Buying by state / Montana / Sheridan County / Westby

Buying a home in Westby, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Westby is worth about $65,800, 82% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 80% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $693 a year in property taxes, about 1.05% of their home's value, higher than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $32,500 a year, so the median home costs 2.0 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 89% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 38% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Westby at a glance

Westby Montana U.S.
Median home value $65,800 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $693 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 1.05% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $32,500 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 89% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 38% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $983 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 27.5% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $358 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 14.2% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1960 1981 1980
Vacant homes 29.3% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 290 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Westby

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Westby home of $65,800 with 20% down costs about $439 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $549, 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 $18,819 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 16% of the median Westby household income of $32,500; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $114,000.

The median rent here is $358 a month, so owning the median home costs about $81 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$13,160
Loan amount$52,640
Principal and interest$354
Property taxes (1.05% a year)$58
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$27
PMI$0
Total per month$439

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$2,303
Loan amount$64,608
Principal and interest$435
Property taxes (1.05% a year)$58
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$27
FHA mortgage insurance$29
Total per month$549

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in Westby

What is the median home value in Westby?

About $65,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Westby?

Homeowners pay a median $693 a year, which is about 1.05% 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 Westby?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $439 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $18,819 a year.

More about Westby

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