What are the schools like in Big Sky, MT?

Big Sky is served primarily by Big Sky School K-12. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.3:1.

What is the median household income in Big Sky?

The median household income in Big Sky, MT is $94,176 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 1.7%.

What is the weather like in Big Sky, MT?

Big Sky has an average high temperature of 29.8°F in January and 77.6°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 23.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 44.7 inches.

Big Sky, MT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Big Sky, MT affordable or expensive?

Big Sky's cost of living index is 104, where 100 represents the national average. This means Big Sky is 4% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $782,100 and the median rent is $1,570 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Big Sky, MT?

Big Sky has a violent crime rate of 379.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1390.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Big Sky, MT a Good Place to Live?

Big Sky is a small town of 2,825 in Montana, with a median household income of $94,176 and a 1.7% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 104 (US average = 100), which is 4% above the national average.

Strengths: Big Sky stands out for solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Big Sky is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Big Sky 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: 103.9

Big Sky's overall cost of living index is 103.9, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Big Sky costs roughly 4% more than the average American city.

Metric	Big Sky, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$782,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,570	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	69.0%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$94,176	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Big Sky's violent crime rate is 379.3 per 100,000 residents — 0% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

379.3 /100k

Property Crime

1390.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Big Sky is served primarily by Big Sky School K-12. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Big Sky, MT	National Avg
School District	Big Sky School K-12	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	56.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	97.3%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Big Sky sees average highs of 29.8°F in January and 77.6°F in July, with 23.3 inches of annual precipitation and 44.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Big Sky, MT
Average High — January	29.8°F
Average High — July	77.6°F
Annual Precipitation	23.3"
Annual Snowfall	44.7"

Demographics

Metric	Big Sky, MT	National Avg
Population	2,825	—
Median Age	37.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	1.7%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	18.7 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	96.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.2%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	2.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	14.5%	22.2%
65 and over	7.5%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jeffers, MT 19 mi Ennis, MT 20 mi McAllister, MT 23 mi Gallatin Gateway, MT 24 mi South Glastonbury, MT 26 mi

ZIP Codes in Big Sky

Big Sky, MT is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

59716 59730

Big Sky vs Other Cities

Big Sky, MT vs Jeffers, MT Big Sky, MT vs Ennis, MT Big Sky, MT vs McAllister, MT Big Sky, MT vs Gallatin Gateway, MT Big Sky, MT vs South Glastonbury, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Big Sky, MT affordable or expensive?

Big Sky's cost of living index is 104, where 100 is the national average. That puts Big Sky roughly 4% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $782,100 and median rent is $1,570/month.

What is the crime rate in Big Sky, MT?

Big Sky's violent crime rate is 379.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1390.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Big Sky?

Public schools in Big Sky are operated by Big Sky School K-12. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.3:1. 56.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Big Sky, MT a good place to live?

Big Sky, MT has a population of 2,825, a median household income of $94,176, and an unemployment rate of 1.7%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Big Sky?

Big Sky averages 29.8°F in January and 77.6°F in July. Annual rainfall is 23.3 inches with about 44.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Big Sky?

Big Sky, MT is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 59716, 59730.

What is the population of Big Sky?

The population of Big Sky, Montana is 2,825 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Big Sky?

Key numbers for living in Big Sky: cost of living index 104 (100 = US average), median home $782,100, median household income $94,176, crime index 86 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Big Sky side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.