The Burden Of Housing Costs In Montana: A Closer Look At County Data

The cost of living in Montana seems to only be increasing lately. One of the areas where it doesn't seem to be getting cheaper is the cost of housing. It's an area that affects so many households across our state.

Housing "Burden" In Montana

According to Overflowdata.com, using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, they have identified the Montana counties that struggle the most with high housing costs. In order for a household to be considered "burdened", more than 35% of their household income goes to household costs.

Montana Residents That Struggle With Housing

They examined Montana residents that rent, own with a mortgage, and own without a mortgage to determine the counties with the highest populations that struggle with housing.

Montana Renters

Sanders County has the highest percentage of their population that uses more than 35% of their income for housing costs, followed by Liberty, Beaverhead, Broadwater and Carbon counties.

Montana Owners Without a Mortgage

Prairie County Montana has the highest percentage of their population that uses more than 35% their income for housing costs, followed by Rosebud, Richland, Petroleum, and Musselshell.

Montana Owners With a Mortgage

When looking at the information there are more counties that have high percentage of populations that are "burdened" with more than 35% of their income going to their housing costs when it comes to mortgages. Wibaux county has the highest population at 41.7% that struggles with housing, followed by Treasure, Judith Basin, Madison and Carter counties.

Last year Montana saw more people moving away, than moving here. There were plenty of reasons given as to why, but the cost of living wasn't the top reason why people left.

Read More: 5 Reasons People Say They Moved Out of Montana In 2023

After looking at this report, if the trend of more people leaving Montana than moving here continues, housing costs may eventually become the number reason why.