Your life in Silver Bow County, Montana

What stands out

If you had to describe Silver Bow County in numbers, start here: the average temperature is in the bottom 3% of American counties (41°F), the average commute is in the bottom 8% of American counties (16 minutes), and rainfall is in the bottom 10% of American counties (18 inches a year). Within Montana it ranks 7th of 56 counties for the average temperature, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Silver Bow County, Montana. 35,306 people live here with you. The population grew 1.1% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +495).

Montana has no sales tax and a two-bracket income tax with a top rate of 5.65% for 2026. It taxes Social Security above income thresholds. Home prices in Bozeman, Missoula and the Flathead Valley roughly doubled between 2019 and 2023 as remote workers arrived, and the state passed a package of zoning reforms in 2023 to add housing supply. Wildfire smoke is now a regular late-summer feature.

Money

The typical household here brings in $56,297 a year, lower than 63% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $55,167. Unemployment runs 2.9%, lower than 70% of American counties. 6% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 16 minutes each way.

Montana takes 4.8% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,730 a year.

Home

The median home costs $289K, pricier than 67% of American counties, about 2.6 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $854 a month. Property tax is 1.10% of home value, roughly $2,153 a year on that median home, higher than 66% of American counties. 70% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.6 per 1,000 residents, lower than 67% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 8 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 74.8 years, shorter than 61% of American counties. There are 73 active physicians in the county, about 20.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 2.0 of 5 stars. 10.5% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.20 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 69% of American counties. 94% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 31 points. 68% of eligible voters turned out. Under Montana law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 41°F, highs near 53 and lows near 30, colder than 97% of American counties. About 18 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 55 out of 100, riskier than 55% of American counties; the county has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 199 Mbps down, faster than 50% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.9 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 3 breweries.

Where these numbers come from

• BLS QCEW 2024
• CDC 2024
• CMS 2024
• Census 2023
• Census ACS
• Census ACS 2022
• Census Population Estimates 2023
• Census SAHIE 2024
• County Health Rankings 2024
• Derived from ACS 2022 home value / household income
• FAA Airport Database
• FEMA Disaster Declarations 1953–2026
• FEMA National Risk Index 2023 (0–100, all hazards)
• HRSA Area Health Resources File 2023
• IMLS
• NOAA Climate Normals
• National Park Service
• Ookla Speedtest Intelligence
• Open Brewery DB
• OpenElections 2024
• SEDA via County Health Rankings 2024 (3.0 = at grade level; not a Z-score)
• Tax Foundation 2023
• USDA Food Environment Atlas
• Zillow ZHVI 2024
• Montana tax and law data: state revenue department, Tax Foundation, Giffords, Guttmacher (2026)

Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure. Missing figures are left out rather than guessed. Share this page: the address is permanent.