Prairie
Montana

What stands out

What stands out about Prairie County: the share working from home is among the highest in America (25%), natural-hazard risk is in the bottom 2% of American counties (2 of 100), and the overdose death rate is in the bottom 4% of American counties (0 per 100,000). Within Montana it ranks 5th of 56 counties for the share working from home.

Where you are

You live in Prairie County, Montana. 1,283 people live here with you, so most faces are familiar. The population grew 0.4% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +9).

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 $44,107 a year, lower than 89% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $43,683. Unemployment runs 3.0%, lower than 65% of American counties. 25% of workers work from home.

Montana takes 4.7% of that median income in state income tax, about $2,073 a year.

Home

The median home costs $135K, cheaper than 89% of American counties, about 2.1 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,548 a month. Property tax is 1.01% of home value, roughly $1,421 a year on that median home, higher than 61% of American counties. 75% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 4.1 per 1,000 residents, higher than 65% of American counties.

There is 1 active physician in the county, about 7.8 per 10,000 people. 17.8% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

86% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 45 points, among the most lopsided counties in the country. 87% 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 46°F, highs near 59 and lows near 33, colder than 88% of American counties. About 15 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 2 out of 100, safer than 98% of American counties; the county has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 202 Mbps down, faster than 51% of American counties. There is 1 airport in the county, counting general aviation.