What are the schools like in Malta, MT?

Malta is served primarily by Malta K-12 Schools. The district operates 2 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.7:1.

What is the median household income in Malta?

The median household income in Malta, MT is $60,735 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.3%.

What is the weather like in Malta, MT?

Malta has an average high temperature of 28.6°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 13.3 inches and annual snowfall averages 10.1 inches.

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

Q: Is Malta, MT affordable or expensive?

Malta's cost of living index is 87, where 100 represents the national average. This means Malta is 13% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $149,300 and the median rent is $549 per month.

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

Malta has a violent crime rate of 784.0 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 581.7 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Malta, MT a Good Place to Live?

Malta is a small town of 2,121 in Montana, with a median household income of $60,735 and a 4.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is 13% below the national average.

Strengths: Malta stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B), short average commutes.

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

All Malta 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: 87.3

Malta's overall cost of living index is 87.3, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Malta costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.

Metric	Malta, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$149,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$549	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	76.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,735	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Malta's violent crime rate is 784.0 per 100,000 residents — 106% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

784.0 /100k

Property Crime

581.7 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Malta is served primarily by Malta K-12 Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Malta, MT	National Avg
School District	Malta K-12 Schools	—
Elementary Schools	2	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.7:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	92.7%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Malta sees average highs of 28.6°F in January and 86.3°F in July, with 13.3 inches of annual precipitation and 10.1 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Malta, MT
Average High — January	28.6°F
Average High — July	86.3°F
Annual Precipitation	13.3"
Annual Snowfall	10.1"

Demographics

Metric	Malta, MT	National Avg
Population	2,121	—
Median Age	49.6	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	6.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	81.5%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.0%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.9%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	23.7%	22.2%
65 and over	24.9%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

East Malta Colony, MT 12 mi Dodson, MT 18 mi Sleeping Buffalo, MT 18 mi Saco, MT 25 mi Whitewater, MT 30 mi

ZIP Codes in Malta

Malta, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code:

59538

Malta vs Other Cities

Malta, MT vs East Malta Colony, MT Malta, MT vs Dodson, MT Malta, MT vs Sleeping Buffalo, MT Malta, MT vs Saco, MT Malta, MT vs Whitewater, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Malta, MT affordable or expensive?

Malta's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average. That makes Malta roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $149,300 and median rent is $549/month.

What is the crime rate in Malta, MT?

Malta's violent crime rate is 784.0 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 581.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Malta?

Public schools in Malta are operated by Malta K-12 Schools. The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 23.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Malta, MT a good place to live?

Malta, MT has a population of 2,121, a median household income of $60,735, and an unemployment rate of 4.3%. 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.

What is the weather like in Malta?

Malta averages 28.6°F in January and 86.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.3 inches with about 10.1 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Malta?

Malta, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59538.

What is the population of Malta?

The population of Malta, Montana is 2,121 with a median age of 49.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Malta?

Key numbers for living in Malta: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $149,300, median household income $60,735, crime index 135 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Malta side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.