Red Lodge Main Street July 2000 · User:Velela / Public domainMontana - Red Lodge through Twin Lakes - NARA - 23941955 (cropped) · Unknown authorUnknown author or not provided / Public domainSmithMineDisaster · User:Velela / Public domainMontana flood · InciWeb / Public domain
Red Lodge is a small town of 2,321 in Montana, with a median household income of $39,472
and a 4.2% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Red Lodge stands out for an affordable cost of living, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Red Lodge is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Red Lodge 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: 89.6
Red Lodge's overall cost of living index is 89.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Red Lodge costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Red Lodge, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$363,900
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$886
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
59.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,472
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Red Lodge's violent crime rate is 182.7 per 100,000 residents
— 52% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
182.7 /100k
Property Crime
402.0 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Red Lodge is served primarily by Red Lodge Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Red Lodge, MT
National Avg
School District
Red Lodge Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
42.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
98.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Red Lodge sees average highs of 37.5°F in January
and 81.2°F in July,
with 22.7 inches of annual precipitation
and 141.9 inches of snow per year.
Red Lodge's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Red Lodge roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $363,900 and median rent is $886/month.
Red Lodge's violent crime rate is 182.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 402.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Red Lodge are operated by Red Lodge Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.6:1. 42.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Red Lodge, MT has a population of 2,321, a median household income of $39,472, and an unemployment rate of 4.2%.
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.
Red Lodge averages 37.5°F in January and 81.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.7 inches
with about 141.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Red Lodge, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59068.
The population of Red Lodge, Montana is 2,321 with a median age of 52.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Red Lodge: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $363,900, median household income $39,472, crime index 37 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Red Lodge side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
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