Glacier
Montana

What stands out

Against every county in America, Glacier County is unusual in three ways: life expectancy is in the bottom 2% of American counties (68.9 years), the school test score is in the bottom 3% of American counties (2.32 where 3.0 is grade level), and the average temperature is in the bottom 3% of American counties (42°F). Within Montana it ranks 5th of 49 counties for life expectancy, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Glacier County, Montana. 13,781 people live here with you. The population held steady at 0.3% last year, and more Americans moved out than in (net -36).

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 $41,078 a year, lower than 93% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $51,534. Unemployment runs 5.0%, higher than 88% of American counties. 17% of workers work from home.

Montana takes 4.7% of that median income in state income tax, about $1,931 a year.

Home

The median home costs $168K, cheaper than 77% of American counties, about 2.7 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $636 a month. Property tax is 0.89% of home value, roughly $1,244 a year on that median home, higher than 52% of American counties. 64% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.8 per 1,000 residents, higher than 91% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 24 people per 100,000 in 2024, one of the harder-hit counties in the country.

A child born here can expect to live 68.9 years, shorter than 98% of American counties. There are 17 active physicians in the county, about 12.3 per 10,000 people. 14.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.24 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 97% of American counties. 87% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Democratic by 43 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 60% 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 42°F, highs near 53 and lows near 31, colder than 97% of American counties. About 23 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 17 out of 100, safer than 83% of American counties; the county has had 12 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 62 Mbps down, slower than 96% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 0.7 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 1 brewery.