What are the schools like in Gardiner, MT?

Gardiner is served primarily by Gardiner Elem. The district operates 1 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 10.0:1.

What is the median household income in Gardiner?

The median household income in Gardiner, MT is $52,455 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 0.0%.

What is the weather like in Gardiner, MT?

Gardiner has an average high temperature of 34.7°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.9 inches and annual snowfall averages 71.5 inches.

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

Q: Is Gardiner, MT affordable or expensive?

Gardiner's cost of living index is 95, where 100 represents the national average. This means Gardiner is 5% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $373,500 and the median rent is $782 per month.

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

Gardiner has a violent crime rate of 415.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 993.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Gardiner, MT a Good Place to Live?

Gardiner is a small town of 744 in Montana, with a median household income of $52,455 . Its cost of living index is 95 (US average = 100), which is 5% below the national average.

Strengths: Gardiner stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Gardiner 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: 94.7

Gardiner's overall cost of living index is 94.7, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Gardiner costs roughly 5% less than the average American city.

Metric	Gardiner, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$373,500	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$782	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	44.6%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$52,455	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Gardiner's violent crime rate is 415.5 per 100,000 residents — 9% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

415.5 /100k

Property Crime

993.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Gardiner is served primarily by Gardiner Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Gardiner, MT	National Avg
School District	Gardiner Elem	—
Elementary Schools	1	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	10.0:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	45.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	94.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Gardiner sees average highs of 34.7°F in January and 87.2°F in July, with 13.9 inches of annual precipitation and 71.5 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Gardiner, MT
Average High — January	34.7°F
Average High — July	87.2°F
Annual Precipitation	13.9"
Annual Snowfall	71.5"

Demographics

Metric	Gardiner, MT	National Avg
Population	744	—
Median Age	46.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	0.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	10.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	88.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	0.0%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	7.4%	22.2%
65 and over	19.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Jardine, MT 6 mi Mammoth, WY 6 mi Corwin Springs, MT 6 mi South Glastonbury, MT 18 mi Emigrant, MT 23 mi

Gardiner vs Other Cities

Gardiner, MT vs Jardine, MT Gardiner, MT vs Mammoth, WY Gardiner, MT vs Corwin Springs, MT Gardiner, MT vs South Glastonbury, MT Gardiner, MT vs Emigrant, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gardiner, MT affordable or expensive?

Gardiner's cost of living index is 95, where 100 is the national average. That makes Gardiner roughly 5% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $373,500 and median rent is $782/month.

What is the crime rate in Gardiner, MT?

Gardiner's violent crime rate is 415.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 993.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Gardiner?

Public schools in Gardiner are operated by Gardiner Elem. The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 10.0:1. 45.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Gardiner, MT a good place to live?

Gardiner, MT has a population of 744, a median household income of $52,455, 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.

What is the weather like in Gardiner?

Gardiner averages 34.7°F in January and 87.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.9 inches with about 71.5 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What is the population of Gardiner?

The population of Gardiner, Montana is 744 with a median age of 46.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Gardiner?

Key numbers for living in Gardiner: cost of living index 95 (100 = US average), median home $373,500, median household income $52,455, crime index 85 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Gardiner side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.