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City Housing Verdict

Bigfork, MT

High Pressure

Living in Bigfork, MT costs about 31% more than the national average (Cost Index: 131). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $614,300 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $82,648, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Bigfork already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 16% rent burden, 7.4x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 202. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Bigfork.

Monthly Housing
$1,103/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
16%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$5,284/mo
After housing and debt · $1,761/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ACSRent source: ACSBEA proxy: nonmetroHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 23%
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Cost Index
131
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$614,300
Source: Census ACS
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,103/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$82,648
National: $78,538
Population
5,249
Purchasing Power
80
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
202 / 100
~2.0x more expensive
Rent Index
82 / 100
18% below average
Goods & Groceries
96 / 100
About the same as most US cities
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Utilities
88 / 100
12% lower utility bills
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Healthcare & Services
98 / 100
In line with national average
BEA State Nonmetro avg.
Overall Index
131
Very Expensive · 31% above average

Bigfork Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $614,300 and Montana's property tax rate of 0.74%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$82,648
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
16%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
7.4x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Bigfork looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Bigfork, MT

Est. Annual Property Tax
$4,546
Monthly Impact
$379
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
0.74%
National avg: ~1.00%

Montana Place Tax Context

Tax TypeMontanaNational Avg
Property Tax Rate0.74%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate5.9%~5.0%
State Sales TaxNo Sales Tax~5.0%

Compare Bigfork to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Bigfork, MT
131
82
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Bigfork, MT: 202
Rent Prices
82

FAQ: Living in Bigfork

Is Bigfork, MT an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Bigfork is about 31% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 131. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $614,300, and monthly rents average roughly $1,103. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Bigfork fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,103, while local median household income is $82,648. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 16% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Bigfork, MT?+

Montana has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.9%. The effective property tax rate is 0.74%. On a home worth $614,300, that translates to roughly $4,546 per year in property taxes. There is no state sales tax.

How much does it cost to rent in Bigfork, MT?+

The typical monthly rent in Bigfork is around $1,103. That's roughly 18% lower than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $614,300, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Bigfork, MT?+

The median home in Bigfork is valued at $614,300. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $3,106/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 79% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Bigfork?+

Grocery prices in Bigfork are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 96, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are below average (index: 88). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Bigfork, MT like to live in?+

Bigfork is a small town with a population of about 5,249. The median age of residents is 53.7, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 6.15%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Montana

If Bigfork feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Montana

Use these city pages when you want to compare Bigfork against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly