Plains is a small town of 1,181 in Montana, with a median household income of $25,313
and a 2.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 91 (US average = 100), which is
9% below the national average.
Strengths:
Plains 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 Plains is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Plains 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: 91.4
Plains's overall cost of living index is 91.4,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Plains costs roughly 9% less than the average American city.
Metric
Plains, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$196,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$775
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
51.5%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$25,313
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Plains's violent crime rate is 214.6 per 100,000 residents
— 44% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
214.6 /100k
Property Crime
363.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Plains is served primarily by Plains K-12.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Plains, MT
National Avg
School District
Plains K-12
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.0:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
16.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
88.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Plains sees average highs of 35.0°F in January
and 86.4°F in July,
with 16.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 15.3 inches of snow per year.
Plains's cost of living index is 91, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Plains roughly 9% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $196,000 and median rent is $775/month.
Plains's violent crime rate is 214.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 363.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Plains are operated by Plains K-12.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.0:1. 16.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Plains, MT has a population of 1,181, a median household income of $25,313, and an unemployment rate of 2.5%.
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.
Plains averages 35.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 16.4 inches
with about 15.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Plains, Montana is 1,181 with a median age of 43.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Plains: cost of living index 91 (100 = US average), median home $196,000, median household income $25,313, crime index 41 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Plains side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
