Belt is a small town of 532 in Montana, with a median household income of $65,500
and a 7.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Belt stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Belt is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Belt city data on this page comes from official government sources —
the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.
Cost of Living
Index: 92.6
Belt's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Belt costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Belt, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$137,500
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$763
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
72.1%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$65,500
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Belt's violent crime rate is 495.3 per 100,000 residents
— 30% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
495.3 /100k
Property Crime
2789.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Belt is served primarily by Belt Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Belt, MT
National Avg
School District
Belt Elem
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.5%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Belt sees average highs of 36.6°F in January
and 82.0°F in July,
with 21.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 68.9 inches of snow per year.
Belt's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Belt roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $137,500 and median rent is $763/month.
Belt's violent crime rate is 495.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2789.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Belt are operated by Belt Elem.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 17.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Belt, MT has a population of 532, a median household income of $65,500, and an unemployment rate of 7.2%.
It offers below-average costs of living, which stretches take-home pay further than in most American cities. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.
Belt averages 36.6°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.6 inches
with about 68.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Belt, Montana is 532 with a median age of 46.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Belt: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $137,500, median household income $65,500, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Belt side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
