Choteau is a small town of 1,714 in Montana, with a median household income of $54,679
and a 1.9% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 92 (US average = 100), which is
8% below the national average.
Strengths:
Choteau stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Choteau is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Choteau 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: 92.5
Choteau's overall cost of living index is 92.5,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Choteau costs roughly 8% less than the average American city.
Metric
Choteau, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$198,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$883
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$54,679
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Choteau's violent crime rate is 178.9 per 100,000 residents
— 53% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
178.9 /100k
Property Crime
423.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Choteau is served primarily by Choteau Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Choteau, MT
National Avg
School District
Choteau Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.9:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Choteau sees average highs of 37.4°F in January
and 82.0°F in July,
with 11.9 inches of annual precipitation
and 47.5 inches of snow per year.
Choteau's cost of living index is 92, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Choteau roughly 8% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $198,300 and median rent is $883/month.
Choteau's violent crime rate is 178.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 423.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Choteau are operated by Choteau Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 25.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Choteau, MT has a population of 1,714, a median household income of $54,679, and an unemployment rate of 1.9%.
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.
Choteau averages 37.4°F in January and 82.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 11.9 inches
with about 47.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Choteau, Montana is 1,714 with a median age of 42.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Choteau: cost of living index 92 (100 = US average), median home $198,300, median household income $54,679, crime index 36 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Choteau side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
