Seeley Lake is a small town of 1,590 in Montana, with a median household income of $42,254
and a 6.1% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Seeley Lake stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (B-), short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Seeley Lake is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Seeley Lake 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: 93.1
Seeley Lake's overall cost of living index is 93.1,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Seeley Lake costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Seeley Lake, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$277,100
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$986
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
87.8%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$42,254
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Seeley Lake's violent crime rate is 500.8 per 100,000 residents
— 32% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
500.8 /100k
Property Crime
2703.2 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Seeley Lake is served primarily by Seeley Lake Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Seeley Lake, MT
National Avg
School District
Seeley Lake Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
22.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
96.6%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Seeley Lake sees average highs of 32.0°F in January
and 83.2°F in July,
with 21.8 inches of annual precipitation
and 118.9 inches of snow per year.
Seeley Lake's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Seeley Lake roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $277,100 and median rent is $986/month.
Seeley Lake's violent crime rate is 500.8 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2703.2 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Seeley Lake are operated by Seeley Lake Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.7:1. 22.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Seeley Lake, MT has a population of 1,590, a median household income of $42,254, and an unemployment rate of 6.1%.
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.
Seeley Lake averages 32.0°F in January and 83.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 21.8 inches
with about 118.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Seeley Lake, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59868.
The population of Seeley Lake, Montana is 1,590 with a median age of 58.7. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Seeley Lake: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $277,100, median household income $42,254, crime index 131 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Seeley Lake side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
