Lame Deer is a small town of 2,064 in Montana, with a median household income of $31,250
and a 26.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 86 (US average = 100), which is
14% below the national average.
Strengths:
Lame Deer stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Lame Deer is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Lame Deer 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: 85.8
Lame Deer's overall cost of living index is 85.8,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Lame Deer costs roughly 14% less than the average American city.
Metric
Lame Deer, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$102,600
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$572
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
53.9%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$31,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Lame Deer's violent crime rate is 67.1 per 100,000 residents
— 82% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
67.1 /100k
Property Crime
67.1 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Lame Deer is served primarily by Lame Deer Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Lame Deer, MT
National Avg
School District
Lame Deer Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
12.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
82.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Lame Deer sees average highs of 34.1°F in January
and 88.4°F in July,
with 15.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 52.3 inches of snow per year.
Lame Deer's cost of living index is 86, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Lame Deer roughly 14% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $102,600 and median rent is $572/month.
Lame Deer's violent crime rate is 67.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 67.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Lame Deer are operated by Lame Deer Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.3:1. 12.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Lame Deer, MT has a population of 2,064, a median household income of $31,250, and an unemployment rate of 26.3%.
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.
Lame Deer averages 34.1°F in January and 88.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.7 inches
with about 52.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Lame Deer, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59043.
The population of Lame Deer, Montana is 2,064 with a median age of 20.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Lame Deer: cost of living index 86 (100 = US average), median home $102,600, median household income $31,250, crime index 12 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Lame Deer side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
