Below Average CostNear National AverageCenterville Elem
Median Income
$74,091
household / year
Median Home Value
$218,200
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$793
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Sand Coulee, MT a Good Place to Live?
Sand Coulee is a small town of 223 in Montana, with a median household income of $74,091
and a 12.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sand Coulee stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sand Coulee is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sand Coulee 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: 92.6
Sand Coulee's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sand Coulee costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sand Coulee, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$218,200
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$793
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
80.4%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$74,091
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sand Coulee's violent crime rate is 495.3 per 100,000 residents
— 30% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
495.3 /100k
Property Crime
2789.9 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Sand Coulee is served primarily by Centerville Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sand Coulee, MT
National Avg
School District
Centerville Elem
—
Elementary Schools
4
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.5:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
27.9%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
90.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sand Coulee sees average highs of 36.8°F in January
and 85.8°F in July,
with 15.4 inches of annual precipitation
and 68.9 inches of snow per year.
Sand Coulee's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sand Coulee roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $218,200 and median rent is $793/month.
Sand Coulee's violent crime rate is 495.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2789.9 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Sand Coulee are operated by Centerville Elem.
The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.5:1. 27.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sand Coulee, MT has a population of 223, a median household income of $74,091, and an unemployment rate of 12.1%.
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.
Sand Coulee averages 36.8°F in January and 85.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 15.4 inches
with about 68.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sand Coulee, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59472.
The population of Sand Coulee, Montana is 223 with a median age of 43.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sand Coulee: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $218,200, median household income $74,091, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Sand Coulee side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.