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Buying a home in Billings, Montana

The typical owner-occupied home in Billings is worth about $343,400, 9% below the Montana median of $375,800 and 3% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,887 a year in property taxes, about 0.84% of their home's value, higher than the Montana rate of 0.72%. The median household earns $73,712 a year, so the median home costs 4.7 times the median income (5.2 times for Montana). 65% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Billings at a glance

Billings Montana U.S.
Median home value $343,400 $375,800 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $2,887 $2,693 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.84% 0.72% 0.94%
Median household income $73,712 $72,509 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 65% 69% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 60% 55% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,781 $1,798 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 21.3% 21.9% 21.0%
Median rent $1,138 $1,081 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 29.6% 27.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1980 1981 1980
Vacant homes 6.2% 13.2% 10.1%
Population 119,434 1,116,875 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Billings

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Billings home of $343,400 with 20% down costs about $2,232 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,804, 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 $95,637 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 36% of the median Billings household income of $73,712; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $265,000.

The median rent here is $1,138 a month, so owning the median home costs about $1,094 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$68,680
Loan amount$274,720
Principal and interest$1,848
Property taxes (0.84% a year)$240
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$143
PMI$0
Total per month$2,232

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$12,019
Loan amount$337,180
Principal and interest$2,268
Property taxes (0.84% a year)$240
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$143
FHA mortgage insurance$152
Total per month$2,804

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Questions about home buying in Billings

What is the median home value in Billings?

About $343,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Billings?

Homeowners pay a median $2,887 a year, which is about 0.84% 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 Billings?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,232 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $95,637 a year.

More about Billings

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