Housing decision brief
Powell County, MT Housing Market
Powell County screens as a higher purchase price, below-state rent, a manageable tax-rate signal market. Use the page as a decision brief, not just a price lookup, because local income, taxes, and data confidence change how affordable the county really is.
36th lowest home value out of 56 Montana counties with data | 25th lowest rent out of 56
Median home value
$255,700
Purchase-price signal from Census ACS.
Median rent
$770/mo
Gross rent, including utilities where reported.
Monthly owner cost
$893/mo
Owner costs before individual loan terms.
Decision snapshot
Read this county in four signals.
Buy screen
4.0x
Median home value divided by local household income.
Rent burden
22.0%
Below 30% usually screens as less pressured.
Rent vs own
$123/mo
Median rent screens below owner cost.
Data confidence
1 note
Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
What Works
Lower rent
$770/mo is 4% below Montana county median
Rent burden below pressure line
22.00% of renter income goes to rent, below the 30% burden threshold.
Low disaster-risk signal
Risk score is 90.1 out of 100, a stronger cross-check for long-term ownership costs.
What to Check
Health context
Health score is 43.9 out of 100, so affordability should be weighed against local health indicators.
Crime data coverage
Crime data coverage is partial. Treat zero or low crime rates as incomplete until you check the source coverage.
Best Fit For
- Renters trying to keep rent below the burden threshold
- Long-term owners who care about disaster-risk exposure
Poor Fit For
- Anyone treating reported crime rates as complete without source context
County vs State vs National
The county number only matters after you see the benchmark. These comparisons show where Powell County is genuinely cheap, where it is average, and where the hidden cost may be.
| Metric | County | State | U.S. | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Median home value Lower usually helps affordability. | $255,700 | $214,750 | $281,900 | 19% pressure19% above Montana county median |
Median gross rent Lower usually helps affordability. | $770 | $801 | $1,163 | Near state median4% below Montana county median |
Monthly owner cost Lower usually helps affordability. | $893 | $777 | $1,672 | 15% pressure15% above Montana county median |
Median household income | $63,432 | $61,858 | $74,755 | Near state median3% above Montana county median |
Effective property-tax rate Lower usually helps affordability. | 0.71% | 1.00% | 1.02% | 29% favorable29% below Montana county median |
Rent burden Lower usually helps affordability. | 22.00% | 24.00% | N/A | 8% favorable22.00% of renter income goes to rent. |
Income Fit
A low price only helps if local income can carry the monthly cost. This panel compares the county income base with rent and owner-cost thresholds.
Rent cushion
+$32,632
Median income minus rent threshold.
Owner cushion
+$25,161
Median income minus owner-cost threshold.
Affordability Advisory
This turns the raw housing numbers into income and buy-versus-rent screens.
Affordability verdict
Powell County is affordable for renters, with a median gross rent of $770/month representing approximately 14.6% of median household income. The rent burden (GRAPI) stands at 22.0%.
Rent vs own
The median rent in Powell County is $770/month, while owner costs run $893/month. Renting saves approximately $123/month.
Income needed
To afford the median rent without exceeding 30% of gross income, a household needs to earn approximately $30,800/year. For owner costs at the 28% rule, the required income is roughly $38,271/year. With a median household income of $63,432, most households can comfortably afford rent here. Notably, 22.0% of renter households in Powell County are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of income on housing.
Regional context
Compared to Dawson County where rent averages $823/month, Powell County is approximately 6% less expensive.
Better Counties to Compare
Similar counties are matched on home value, rent, income, and state context. This is more useful than a simple nearest-price list.
| County | Home Value | Rent | Why compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teton County, MT | $235,500 | $750/mo | Same-state comparison near $235,500 home value and $750/mo rent. |
| Fallon County, MT | $237,000 | $772/mo | Same-state comparison near $237,000 home value and $772/mo rent. |
| Richland County, MT | $259,000 | $866/mo | Same-state comparison near $259,000 home value and $866/mo rent. |
| Beaverhead County, MT | $282,000 | $800/mo | Same-state comparison near $282,000 home value and $800/mo rent. |
| Cascade County, MT | $243,300 | $902/mo | Same-state comparison near $243,300 home value and $902/mo rent. |
Data Confidence
- Crime coverage is partial, so safety comparisons need source context.
Next Checks
Housing Questions for Powell County
Is Powell County affordable for buying a home?
Is renting or owning cheaper in Powell County?
How much income do you need for housing in Powell County?
What should I double-check before moving to Powell County?
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023) — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.