Heart Butte Tree SNow · MicaelaYoung / CC BY-SA 3.0Heart Butte Day School - NARA - 292895 (crop) · Department of the Interior. Office of Indian Affairs. Blackfeet Agency. 1873-1947 / Public domain
Heart Butte is a small town of 554 in Montana, with a median household income of $28,750
and a 20.8% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 81 (US average = 100), which is
19% below the national average.
Strengths:
Heart Butte stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Heart Butte is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Heart Butte 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: 81.2
Heart Butte's overall cost of living index is 81.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Heart Butte costs roughly 19% less than the average American city.
Metric
Heart Butte, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$55,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$473
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
42.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$28,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Heart Butte's violent crime rate is 101.5 per 100,000 residents
— 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
101.5 /100k
Property Crime
693.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Heart Butte is served primarily by Heart Butte K-12 Schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Heart Butte, MT
National Avg
School District
Heart Butte K-12 Schools
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
9.4%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
86.4%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Heart Butte sees average highs of 30.4°F in January
and 73.8°F in July,
with 53.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 46.8 inches of snow per year.
Heart Butte's cost of living index is 81, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Heart Butte roughly 19% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $55,000 and median rent is $473/month.
Heart Butte's violent crime rate is 101.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 693.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Heart Butte are operated by Heart Butte K-12 Schools.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.0:1. 9.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Heart Butte, MT has a population of 554, a median household income of $28,750, and an unemployment rate of 20.8%.
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.
Heart Butte averages 30.4°F in January and 73.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 53.1 inches
with about 46.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Heart Butte, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59448.
The population of Heart Butte, Montana is 554 with a median age of 27.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Heart Butte: cost of living index 81 (100 = US average), median home $55,000, median household income $28,750, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Heart Butte side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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