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Phillips
Montana

4K

Population

$61K

Median Income

$217K

Median Home

R+54

Politics

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What stands out

If you had to describe Phillips County in numbers, start here: home internet speed is in the bottom 2% of American counties (55 Mbps), the overdose death rate is in the bottom 4% of American counties (0 per 100,000), and rainfall is in the bottom 4% of American counties (13 inches a year). Within Montana it ranks 9th of 55 counties for home internet speed, counting from the bottom.

Where you are

You live in Phillips County, Montana. 4,233 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population grew 0.5% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +32).

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 $61,250 a year, higher than 52% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $41,451. Unemployment runs 3.7%, higher than 59% of American counties. 16% of workers work from home.

Montana takes 4.9% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,009 a year.

Home

The median home costs $227K, cheaper than 53% of American counties, about 2.4 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $556 a month. Property tax is 0.81% of home value, roughly $1,445 a year on that median home, lower than 55% of American counties. 80% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.6 per 1,000 residents, lower than 66% of American counties.

A child born here can expect to live 74.9 years, shorter than 61% of American counties. There is 1 active physician in the county, about 2.4 per 10,000 people. 9.7% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 2.84 where 3.0 is national grade level, lower than 71% of American counties. 93% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 54 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 79% 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 44°F, highs near 58 and lows near 31, colder than 92% of American counties. About 13 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 10 out of 100, safer than 90% of American counties; the county has had 10 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 55 Mbps down, slower than 98% of American counties. There are 2 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.3 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people.

Written from the figures below. Percentiles compare this county with every other county that reports the same figure; missing figures are left out rather than guessed.

Economy

Median Household Income$61K
This county
national avg ~$75K
Poverty Rate15.1%
This county
national avg ~11.5%
Unemployment Rate3.7%
This county
national avg ~3.8%
GDP per Capita$43,342
Federal Spending per Capita$1,531
Median Individual Earnings$41K
This county
national avg $45K
Professional/Management Workers31.9%
Average Adjusted Gross Income$52K
Avg Credit Score689
Work From Home %15.8%
This county
national avg 17.0%
Population Under 1823.5%
This county
national avg 22.0%
Single-Person Households30.5%
This county
national avg 28.0%
Banks & Finance Firms3
Income (20th Percentile)$29K
Income (80th Percentile)$109K
Income (95th Percentile)$189K
Bachelor's Degree or Higher20.0%
This county
national avg 34.3%
Less Than High School6.8%
This county
national avg 11.0%
Dependency Ratio0.86
Medicare Spending / Person$3,428
SS Benefits / Person$4,083
Median Earnings (Bachelor's)$53K
Median Earnings (HS Diploma)$28K
Public Assistance Recipients2.5%
Average Annual Wage$41K
Federal Government Jobs Located Here65
Federal Share of Jobs Located Here5.3%
Residents Who Work for the Federal Government5.7%
Federal Civilian Share of Earnings9.7%
Federal Contract Dollars Performed Here (FY2025)$771,282
Contract Dollars Relative to Local Wages0.01x wages
Largest Award's Share of Contract Dollars56%

Housing

Sources: Zillow ZHVI · Census ACS 2022 · Tax Foundation 2023 (effective rates)

Median Home Value$217K
This county
$450K state avg
$303K national
Market Rent (ZORI)$523/mo
This county
$1450/mo state avg
$1400/mo national
Property Tax Rate0.81%
This county
0.58% state avg
1.10% national

Annual tax on median home: $1,445

Affordability & Supply

HUD Fair Market Rent (2BR)$973/mo
Home Price Change (1 yr)+9.1%−+0.5% since 2024
Home Value to Income Ratio2.4x income
Severely Cost-Burdened Households6.6%
Homeownership Rate80.0%
This county
national avg ~65%

Market Activity

Sources: Zillow Research monthly · Redfin

Listings with Price Cuts— Low — market moving fast
5.4%
Active Listings
18
New Listings / Month
4

Source: Zillow Research · Updated monthly

Days on Market (Redfin)— Slow — buyers have leverage
273 days
Months of Supply (Redfin)— Low inventory — sellers market
1.0 mo
Sold Above List (Redfin)
0.0%

Source: Redfin · Updated monthly

Health

Life Expectancy74.9 yrs
This county
national avg ~78.5 years
Food Insecurity7.5%
This county
national avg ~11%
Food Environment Index7.9 / 10
This county
higher = better access
Primary Care Shortage Score13
This county
national avg 5
Mental Health Shortage Score18
Dental Care Shortage Score15
Healthcare Shortage Score15.3
Obesity Rate (BRFSS)39.0%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Smoking Rate (BRFSS)15.8%
This county
national avg 14.0%
Poor Health Rate (BRFSS)18.3%
This county
national avg 18.0%
Physical Inactivity (BRFSS)22.7%
This county
national avg 24.0%
High Blood Pressure (BRFSS)28.1%
This county
national avg 32.0%
Active Physicians1
ER Visits per 1,000 Medicare Patients723 / 1,000
Medicare Cost per Beneficiary$11,501
Uninsured (under 65)9.7%
This county
national avg ~10%
Adults with Depression26.0%

Education

Math Test Scores2.82 grade level
Reading Test Scores2.87 grade level
HS Diploma Holders930
Bachelor's Degree Holders477
HS Completion Rate93.2%
This county
national avg ~85%

Safety

Violent Crime Rate3.6 / 1,000
This county
national avg ~4.0
Social Vulnerability (CDC SVI)21th pct
Drug Overdose Deaths (2024)0.0 / 100K

Climate & Air Quality

Natural Amenity Scale0.3
January Sunshine-0.47
January Temperature-1.82
Average Temp44°F+3.5% since 2022
Avg High Temp58°F+3.2% since 2022
Avg Low Temp31°F+4.3% since 2022
Median AQIAQI 38
Good Air Days289 days/yr
Unhealthy Air Days11 days/yr
Annual Precipitation12.6 in/yr+15% since 2022
Avg Storm Events18.6 storms/yr
Avg Annual Storm Damage$0
Ozone Days270 days/yr
This county
national avg 50 days/yr
Drought Index (2022)-0.58
Heating Degree Days7,982 HDD/yr
This county
national avg ~4,500 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days572 CDD/yr
This county
national avg ~1,200 CDD/yr
Heating Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)8,820 HDD/yr
Cooling Degree Days (1901–2000 Baseline)434 CDD/yr
Avg Tornadoes / Year0.2
Avg Flood Events / Year0.6
Avg Hail Events / Year5.8
Avg Hurricane Events / Year0.00
Avg Wildfire Events / Year0.0
Avg Winter Storms / Year0.0
Avg Heat Events / Year0.0
Natural Hazard Risk (FEMA)10 / 100
Community Resilience (FEMA)35 / 100
Federal Disaster Declarations10 since 1953
Fine Particulate Pollution (PM2.5)6.3 µg/m³
This county
EPA standard 9 µg/m³

Outdoor & Recreation

Historic Places (NRHP)7 properties
FAA-Registered Airports2 total
Airports (excl. heliports)2 airports

Internet & Remote Work

Download Speed55 Mbps
This county
national avg ~120 Mbps
Upload Speed53 Mbps
Fixed Internet (Q1 2026)119 Mbps
Mobile Internet (Q1 2026)184 Mbps
Mobile Upload (Q1 2026)67 Mbps
Mobile Latency (Q1 2026)39 ms
Households with 100Mbps+83.0%
This county
national avg 75.0%
Cellular-Only Internet5.8%
This county
national avg 8.0%
Fixed Upload Speed (Q1 2026)53 Mbps

Commute & Transit

Remote Workers295 workers
Public Transit Commuters1 workers
Walk to Work (workers)178 workers
Extreme Commutes (90+ min)40 workers
Bike Commuters0.9%
Walk to Work9.5%

Agriculture

Farms377 farms
Farmland690,615 acres

Families & Childcare

Childcare Cost Burden24.3%
This county
national median ~27% of household income
Childcare Centers3.6 per 10K residents

Civic & Community

Voter Turnout78.6%
This county
national avg ~55%
Volunteering Rate1.0%
Income Inequality (Gini)3.685
Nonprofit Organizations64
Veterans Share7.6%
This county
national avg 7.0%
Married Adults60.0%
Never-Married Adults24.2%
Divorced Adults6.4%
Religious Organizations4
Native American Population5.4%
Membership Associations9.5 per 10K residents

Lifestyle & Services

Full-Service Restaurants1.28 per 1K residents
Hotels & Lodging5
Professional Services Firms10
Veterinary Practices3
Real Estate Firms7
Debt Burden
Avg Mortgage Balance$87K
Avg Student Loan Balance$13K
Avg Credit Card Balance$4K
Loan Delinquency Rate36.8%
This county
national avg 4.0%

Innovation

Inventor Rate0.00%

Politics

R+54

2024 Presidential · Montana was R+13 statewide

vs Montana State

Income tax
5.9%Same (state law)
Property tax
0.81%0.58% state avg
Politics
R+54R+13
COL Index
104state index (no county figure)

Population & Migration

Net Domestic Migration 2023

↑ +32

More people arriving than leaving

IRS Wealth Migration

Income-neutral migration pattern (IRS: 0.97x avg income)

Economic Mobility

55%

chance a low-income child reaches the middle class

Source: Opportunity Insights

Real Estate

Find Homes in Phillips County

Median home value: $227K

View on Zillow →View on Realtor.com →

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Taxes, cost of living, crime, schools, gun laws and more.

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Data: Census ACS, BLS, Zillow, USDA Natural Amenities, OpenElections 2024, CMS, NCES. Vintage 2022–2025. News via Google News.

Your Priorities

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Quick Profiles

Dial in your priorities

Annual Income

$150K

Affects effective income tax rate

$0$500K$5M+

Retirement Savings

$0

Affects pension and SS tax burden

None$500K$10M+

Social Security

None

Annual Social Security benefit

None$150K/yr

My Property Is Worth

$400K

Affects property tax burden

Tax burden ↓$1M$50M+

Home Buying Budget

$400K

Compared to state median home price

Hard to find$250K$5M+

Monthly Rent Budget

Don't care

Compared to state median 2BR rent

Don't care$10K/mo

Job Market

Don't care

State unemployment and job growth

Don't careHot market

Airport Access

Don't care

Direct flight destinations from state hubs

Don't careMust have hub

City vs Country

Mid-size city

% urban population

Deep countryBig city

Sunshine

Don't care

Annual sunny days per state

Don't careMax sunshine

Food Scene

Don't care

Restaurants per 100K residents

Don't careWorld-class

Political Preference

Neutral

State's political lean

LiberalConservative

Gun Laws

Neutral

State gun law grade (Giffords)

Gun Control2A Freedom

Abortion Access

Neutral

State abortion access policy

Pro-ChoiceNeutralPro-Life

Community

None

Congregations per 100K residents

AvoidDon't careSeek

Sports & Entertainment

Don't care

Pro sports teams and major venues

Don't careMust have pro teams

Cannabis Laws

Neutral

State cannabis legality

Prefer LegalNeutralPrefer Prohibition

Retiree Community

Neutral

% population 65+ (Census)

Young areaRetirement-heavy

Dating Market

Neutral

% adults never-married (Census)

Singles sceneFamily community

Safety / Low Crime

Don't care

Violent crime rate per 100K (FBI)

Don't careVery safe

School Quality

Don't care

K-12 rank (Education Week)

Don't careTop-ranked

Healthcare Access

Don't care

Healthcare system rank (Commonwealth Fund)

Don't careTop-ranked

Childcare Affordability

Don't care

Cost of living proxy for childcare affordability

Don't careMust be affordable