Fort Shaw is a small town of 163 in Montana, with a median household income of N/A
.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Fort Shaw stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Fort Shaw is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Fort Shaw 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: 92.6
Fort Shaw's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Fort Shaw costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Fort Shaw, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
N/A
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
76.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
N/A
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Fort Shaw's violent crime rate is 495.3 per 100,000 residents
— 30% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
495.3 /100k
Property Crime
2789.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Fort Shaw is served primarily by Sun River Valley Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Fort Shaw, MT
National Avg
School District
Sun River Valley Elem
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
87.3%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Fort Shaw sees average highs of 37.5°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 13.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.9 inches of snow per year.
Fort Shaw's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Fort Shaw roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is N/A and median rent is N/A/month.
Fort Shaw's violent crime rate is 495.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2789.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Fort Shaw are operated by Sun River Valley Elem.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 19.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Fort Shaw, MT has a population of 163, a median household income of N/A, 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.
Fort Shaw averages 37.5°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.3 inches
with about 45.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Fort Shaw, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59443.
The population of Fort Shaw, Montana is 163 with a median age of 57.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Fort Shaw: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home N/A, median household income N/A, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Fort Shaw side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
