What are the schools like in Chinook, MT?

Chinook is served primarily by Chinook Elem. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 11.8:1.

What is the median household income in Chinook?

The median household income in Chinook, MT is $47,067 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 2.3%.

What is the weather like in Chinook, MT?

Chinook has an average high temperature of 27.1°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 41.0 inches.

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

Q: Is Chinook, MT affordable or expensive?

Chinook's cost of living index is 88, where 100 represents the national average. This means Chinook is 12% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $175,000 and the median rent is $542 per month.

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

Chinook has a violent crime rate of 519.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 432.9 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Chinook, MT a Good Place to Live?

Chinook is a small town of 1,488 in Montana, with a median household income of $47,067 and a 2.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 88 (US average = 100), which is 12% below the national average.

Strengths: Chinook stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Chinook is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Chinook 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: 88.0

Chinook's overall cost of living index is 88.0, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Chinook costs roughly 12% less than the average American city.

Metric	Chinook, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$175,000	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$542	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	71.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$47,067	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Chinook's violent crime rate is 519.5 per 100,000 residents — 37% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

519.5 /100k

Property Crime

432.9 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Chinook is served primarily by Chinook Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Chinook, MT	National Avg
School District	Chinook Elem	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	11.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	37.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	95.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Chinook sees average highs of 27.1°F in January and 84.3°F in July, with 13.4 inches of annual precipitation and 41.0 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Chinook, MT
Average High — January	27.1°F
Average High — July	84.3°F
Annual Precipitation	13.4"
Annual Snowfall	41.0"

Demographics

Metric	Chinook, MT	National Avg
Population	1,488	—
Median Age	41.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	2.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	9.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	93.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.7%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	27.5%	22.2%
65 and over	20.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Zurich, MT 9 mi East End Colony, MT 18 mi Saddle Butte, MT 19 mi Havre North, MT 20 mi Havre, MT 21 mi

ZIP Codes in Chinook

Chinook, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59523

Chinook vs Other Cities

Chinook, MT vs Zurich, MT Chinook, MT vs East End Colony, MT Chinook, MT vs Saddle Butte, MT Chinook, MT vs Havre North, MT Chinook, MT vs Havre, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chinook, MT affordable or expensive?

Chinook's cost of living index is 88, where 100 is the national average. That makes Chinook roughly 12% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $175,000 and median rent is $542/month.

What is the crime rate in Chinook, MT?

Chinook's violent crime rate is 519.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 432.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Chinook?

Public schools in Chinook are operated by Chinook Elem. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.8:1. 37.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Chinook, MT a good place to live?

Chinook, MT has a population of 1,488, a median household income of $47,067, and an unemployment rate of 2.3%. 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 Chinook?

Chinook averages 27.1°F in January and 84.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.4 inches with about 41.0 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Chinook?

Chinook, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59523.

What is the population of Chinook?

The population of Chinook, Montana is 1,488 with a median age of 41.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Chinook?

Key numbers for living in Chinook: cost of living index 88 (100 = US average), median home $175,000, median household income $47,067, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Chinook side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.