Below Average CostNear National AverageBig Timber Elem
Median Income
$60,842
household / year
Median Home Value
$210,700
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$726
gross / month
Cost of Living
91
national avg = 100
Is Big Timber, MT a Good Place to Live?
Big Timber is a small town of 1,702 in Montana, with a median household income of $60,842
and a 4.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Big Timber stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Big Timber is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Big Timber 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: 91.3
Big Timber's overall cost of living index is 91.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Big Timber costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Big Timber, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$210,700
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$726
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.7%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$60,842
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Big Timber's violent crime rate is 615.5 per 100,000 residents
— 62% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
615.5 /100k
Property Crime
508.4 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Big Timber is served primarily by Big Timber Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Big Timber, MT
National Avg
School District
Big Timber Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
95.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Big Timber sees average highs of 38.1°F in January
and 86.2°F in July,
with 16.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 54.6 inches of snow per year.
Big Timber's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Big Timber roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $210,700 and median rent is $726/month.
Big Timber's violent crime rate is 615.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 508.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Big Timber are operated by Big Timber Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 15.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Big Timber, MT has a population of 1,702, a median household income of $60,842, and an unemployment rate of 4.0%.
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.
Big Timber averages 38.1°F in January and 86.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.9 inches
with about 54.6 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Big Timber, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59011.
The population of Big Timber, Montana is 1,702 with a median age of 38.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Big Timber: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $210,700, median household income $60,842, crime index 107 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Big Timber side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.