Below Average CostNear National AverageFlorence-Carlton K-12 Schls
Median Income
$80,435
household / year
Median Home Value
$509,900
owner-occupied
Median Rent
N/A
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Carlton, MT a Good Place to Live?
Carlton is a small town of 471 in Montana, with a median household income of $80,435
.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Carlton stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether Carlton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Carlton 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: 93.1
Carlton's overall cost of living index is 93.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Carlton costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Carlton, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$509,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
100.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$80,435
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Carlton's violent crime rate is 500.8 per 100,000 residents
— 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
500.8 /100k
Property Crime
2703.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Carlton is served primarily by Florence-Carlton K-12 Schls.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Carlton, MT
National Avg
School District
Florence-Carlton K-12 Schls
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.6%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
100.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Carlton sees average highs of 34.6°F in January
and 85.3°F in July,
with 14.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.1 inches of snow per year.
Carlton's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Carlton roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $509,900 and median rent is N/A/month.
Carlton's violent crime rate is 500.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2703.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Carlton are operated by Florence-Carlton K-12 Schls.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.2:1. 25.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Carlton, MT has a population of 471, a median household income of $80,435, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Carlton averages 34.6°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.5 inches
with about 17.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Carlton, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59833.
The population of Carlton, Montana is 471 with a median age of 63.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Carlton: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $509,900, median household income $80,435, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.