What are the schools like in Busby, MT?

Busby is served primarily by Northern Cheyenne Tribal School. The district operates several elementary schools, several middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 9.4:1.

What is the median household income in Busby?

The median household income in Busby, MT is $44,712 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 18.4%.

What is the weather like in Busby, MT?

Busby has an average high temperature of 34.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 15.7 inches and annual snowfall averages 52.3 inches.

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

Q: Is Busby, MT affordable or expensive?

Busby's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Busby is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $128,400 and the median rent is $565 per month.

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

Busby has a violent crime rate of 315.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1163.8 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Busby, MT a Good Place to Live?

Busby is a small town of 474 in Montana, with a median household income of $44,712 and a 18.4% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Busby stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Busby is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Busby 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: 86.8

Busby's overall cost of living index is 86.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Busby costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Busby, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$128,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$565	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$44,712	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Busby's violent crime rate is 315.3 per 100,000 residents — 17% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

315.3 /100k

Property Crime

1163.8 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Busby is served primarily by Northern Cheyenne Tribal School. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Busby, MT	National Avg
School District	Northern Cheyenne Tribal School	—
Elementary Schools	N/A	—
Middle Schools	N/A	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	9.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	26.8%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.4%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Busby sees average highs of 34.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July, with 15.7 inches of annual precipitation and 52.3 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Busby, MT
Average High — January	34.1°F
Average High — July	88.4°F
Annual Precipitation	15.7"
Annual Snowfall	52.3"

Demographics

Metric	Busby, MT	National Avg
Population	474	—
Median Age	33.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	18.4%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	15.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	3.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	38.4%	22.2%
65 and over	4.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Muddy, MT 10 mi Lame Deer, MT 19 mi Crow Agency, MT 24 mi Lodge Grass, MT 24 mi Birney, MT 25 mi

ZIP Codes in Busby

Busby, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59016

Busby vs Other Cities

Busby, MT vs Muddy, MT Busby, MT vs Lame Deer, MT Busby, MT vs Crow Agency, MT Busby, MT vs Lodge Grass, MT Busby, MT vs Birney, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Busby, MT affordable or expensive?

Busby's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Busby roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $128,400 and median rent is $565/month.

What is the crime rate in Busby, MT?

Busby's violent crime rate is 315.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1163.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Busby?

Public schools in Busby are operated by Northern Cheyenne Tribal School. The district has several elementary, several middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.4:1. 26.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Busby, MT a good place to live?

Busby, MT has a population of 474, a median household income of $44,712, and an unemployment rate of 18.4%. 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.

What is the weather like in Busby?

Busby averages 34.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.7 inches with about 52.3 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Busby?

Busby, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59016.

What is the population of Busby?

The population of Busby, Montana is 474 with a median age of 33.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Busby?

Key numbers for living in Busby: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $128,400, median household income $44,712, crime index 72 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Busby side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.