What are the schools like in Bigfork, MT?

Bigfork is served primarily by Bigfork Elem. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Bigfork?

The median household income in Bigfork, MT is $73,443 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Bigfork, MT?

Bigfork has an average high temperature of 32.4°F in January and 81.0°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 26.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 50.6 inches.

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

Q: Is Bigfork, MT affordable or expensive?

Bigfork's cost of living index is 101, where 100 represents the national average. This means Bigfork is 1% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $583,800 and the median rent is $1,256 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Bigfork, MT?

Bigfork has a violent crime rate of 330.4 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1629.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Bigfork, MT a Good Place to Live?

Bigfork is a small town of 4,953 in Montana, with a median household income of $73,443 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 101 (US average = 100), which is 1% above the national average.

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

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

All Bigfork 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: 100.7

Bigfork's overall cost of living index is 100.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Bigfork costs roughly 1% more than the average American city.

Metric	Bigfork, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$583,800	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,256	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$73,443	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Bigfork's violent crime rate is 330.4 per 100,000 residents — 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

330.4 /100k

Property Crime

1629.0 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Bigfork is served primarily by Bigfork Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Bigfork, MT	National Avg
School District	Bigfork Elem	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Bigfork sees average highs of 32.4°F in January and 81.0°F in July, with 26.4 inches of annual precipitation and 50.6 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Bigfork, MT
Average High — January	32.4°F
Average High — July	81.0°F
Annual Precipitation	26.4"
Annual Snowfall	50.6"

Demographics

Metric	Bigfork, MT	National Avg
Population	4,953	—
Median Age	54.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	86.7%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	10.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	15.2%	22.2%
65 and over	30.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Woods Bay, MT 5 mi Somers, MT 8 mi Lakeside, MT 9 mi Forest Hill Village, MT 10 mi Bear Dance, MT 13 mi

ZIP Codes in Bigfork

Bigfork, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59911

Bigfork vs Other Cities

Bigfork, MT vs Woods Bay, MT Bigfork, MT vs Somers, MT Bigfork, MT vs Lakeside, MT Bigfork, MT vs Forest Hill Village, MT Bigfork, MT vs Bear Dance, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bigfork, MT affordable or expensive?

Bigfork's cost of living index is 101, where 100 is the national average. That puts Bigfork roughly 1% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $583,800 and median rent is $1,256/month.

What is the crime rate in Bigfork, MT?

Bigfork's violent crime rate is 330.4 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1629.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Bigfork?

Public schools in Bigfork are operated by Bigfork Elem. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 50.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Bigfork, MT a good place to live?

Bigfork, MT has a population of 4,953, a median household income of $73,443, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 Bigfork?

Bigfork averages 32.4°F in January and 81.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 26.4 inches with about 50.6 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Bigfork?

Bigfork, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59911.

What is the population of Bigfork?

The population of Bigfork, Montana is 4,953 with a median age of 54.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Bigfork?

Key numbers for living in Bigfork: cost of living index 101 (100 = US average), median home $583,800, median household income $73,443, crime index 83 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Bigfork side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.