Below Average CostNear National AverageSun River Valley Elem
Median Income
$39,250
household / year
Median Home Value
$163,000
owner-occupied
Median Rent
N/A
gross / month
Cost of Living
93
national avg = 100
Is Sun River, MT a Good Place to Live?
Sun River is a small town of 58 in Montana, with a median household income of $39,250
and a 50.0% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 93 (US average = 100), which is
7% below the national average.
Strengths:
Sun River stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A-).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Sun River is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Sun River 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
Sun River's overall cost of living index is 92.6,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Sun River costs roughly 7% less than the average American city.
Metric
Sun River, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$163,000
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
N/A
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
100.0%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$39,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Near National Average
Sun River'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
Sun River is served primarily by Sun River Valley Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Sun River, MT
National Avg
School District
Sun River Valley Elem
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
9.6:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
17.0%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
100.0%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Sun River sees average highs of 37.5°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 13.3 inches of annual precipitation
and 45.9 inches of snow per year.
Sun River's cost of living index is 93, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Sun River roughly 7% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $163,000 and median rent is N/A/month.
Sun River'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 Sun River are operated by Sun River Valley Elem.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 9.6:1. 17.0% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sun River, MT has a population of 58, a median household income of $39,250, and an unemployment rate of 50.0%.
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.
Sun River averages 37.5°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 13.3 inches
with about 45.9 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Sun River, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59483.
The population of Sun River, Montana is 58 with a median age of 69.5. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Sun River: cost of living index 93 (100 = US average), median home $163,000, median household income $39,250, 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 Sun River side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.