Garrison is a small town of 127 in Montana, with a median household income of $43,750
and a 7.7% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Garrison stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Garrison is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Garrison 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: 86.9
Garrison's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Garrison costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Garrison, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$173,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$475
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
78.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Garrison's violent crime rate is 508.0 per 100,000 residents
— 34% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
508.0 /100k
Property Crime
522.5 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Garrison is served primarily by Garrison Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1
(slightly above the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Garrison, MT
National Avg
School District
Garrison Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
N/A
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
0.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
76.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Garrison sees average highs of 33.2°F in January
and 79.1°F in July,
with 14.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 30.5 inches of snow per year.
Garrison's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Garrison roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $173,200 and median rent is $475/month.
Garrison's violent crime rate is 508.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 522.5 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Garrison are operated by Garrison Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, several middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 17.0:1. 0.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Garrison, MT has a population of 127, a median household income of $43,750, and an unemployment rate of 7.7%.
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.
Garrison averages 33.2°F in January and 79.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.6 inches
with about 30.5 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Garrison, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59731.
The population of Garrison, Montana is 127 with a median age of 19.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Garrison: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $173,200, median household income $43,750, crime index 90 (100 = US average, lower is safer). Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Garrison side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.