Hamilton is a small town of 4,806 in Montana, with a median household income of $45,973
and a 2.4% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 94 (US average = 100), which is
6% below the national average.
Strengths:
Hamilton stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Hamilton is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Hamilton 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: 93.6
Hamilton's overall cost of living index is 93.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Hamilton costs roughly 6% less than the average American city.
Metric
Hamilton, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$279,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$816
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
50.2%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,973
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Hamilton's violent crime rate is 329.5 per 100,000 residents
— 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
329.5 /100k
Property Crime
2361.3 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Hamilton is served primarily by Hamilton K-12 Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Hamilton, MT
National Avg
School District
Hamilton K-12 Schools
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
2
—
High Schools
2
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
28.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Hamilton sees average highs of 35.1°F in January
and 84.0°F in July,
with 13.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 17.1 inches of snow per year.
Hamilton's cost of living index is 94, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Hamilton roughly 6% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $279,200 and median rent is $816/month.
Hamilton's violent crime rate is 329.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2361.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Hamilton are operated by Hamilton K-12 Schools.
The district has 2 elementary, 2 middle, and 2 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.7:1. 28.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Hamilton, MT has a population of 4,806, a median household income of $45,973, and an unemployment rate of 2.4%.
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.
Hamilton averages 35.1°F in January and 84.0°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.6 inches
with about 17.1 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Hamilton, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59840.
The population of Hamilton, Montana is 4,806 with a median age of 48.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Hamilton: cost of living index 94 (100 = US average), median home $279,200, median household income $45,973, crime index 97 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hamilton side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
