Very AffordableNear National AverageNorth Star Elem
Median Income
$69,750
household / year
Median Home Value
$110,400
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$629
gross / month
Cost of Living
87
national avg = 100
Is Rudyard, MT a Good Place to Live?
Rudyard is a small town of 373 in Montana, with a median household income of $69,750
.
Its cost of living index is 87 (US average = 100), which is
13% below the national average.
Strengths:
Rudyard stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A+), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Rudyard is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Rudyard 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: 86.9
Rudyard's overall cost of living index is 86.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Rudyard costs roughly 13% less than the average American city.
Metric
Rudyard, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$110,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$629
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
57.3%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$69,750
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Rudyard's violent crime rate is 418.6 per 100,000 residents
— 10% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
418.6 /100k
Property Crime
2699.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Rudyard is served primarily by North Star Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Rudyard, MT
National Avg
School District
North Star Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
33.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.8%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Rudyard sees average highs of 29.4°F in January
and 83.5°F in July,
with 10.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 35.3 inches of snow per year.
Rudyard's cost of living index is 87, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Rudyard roughly 13% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $110,400 and median rent is $629/month.
Rudyard's violent crime rate is 418.6 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2699.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Rudyard are operated by North Star Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.6:1. 33.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Rudyard, MT has a population of 373, a median household income of $69,750, and an unemployment rate of 0.0%.
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.
Rudyard averages 29.4°F in January and 83.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 10.8 inches
with about 35.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Rudyard, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59540.
The population of Rudyard, Montana is 373 with a median age of 29.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Rudyard: cost of living index 87 (100 = US average), median home $110,400, median household income $69,750, crime index 118 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Rudyard side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.