Circle is a small town of 483 in Montana, with a median household income of $79,750
.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Circle stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Circle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Circle 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: 86.3
Circle's overall cost of living index is 86.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Circle costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Circle, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$153,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$475
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
75.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$79,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Circle's violent crime rate is 60.1 per 100,000 residents
— 84% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
60.1 /100k
Property Crime
60.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Circle is served primarily by Circle Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Circle, MT
National Avg
School District
Circle Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
32.2%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Circle sees average highs of 28.5°F in January
and 87.1°F in July,
with 14.5 inches of annual precipitation
and 23.7 inches of snow per year.
Circle's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Circle roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $153,300 and median rent is $475/month.
Circle's violent crime rate is 60.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 60.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Circle are operated by Circle Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 2 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 32.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Circle, MT has a population of 483, a median household income of $79,750, 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.
Circle averages 28.5°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.5 inches
with about 23.7 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Circle, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59215.
The population of Circle, Montana is 483 with a median age of 50.1. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Circle: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $153,300, median household income $79,750, crime index 11 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Circle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.