Thompson Falls is a small town of 1,658 in Montana, with a median household income of $43,125
and a 0.6% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Thompson Falls stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, short average commutes.
Trade-offs:
No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Thompson Falls is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Thompson Falls 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: 89.2
Thompson Falls's overall cost of living index is 89.2,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Thompson Falls costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Thompson Falls, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$177,400
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$619
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
70.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$43,125
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Safer than Average
Thompson Falls's violent crime rate is 329.2 per 100,000 residents
— 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
329.2 /100k
Property Crime
526.7 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Thompson Falls is served primarily by Thompson Falls Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Thompson Falls, MT
National Avg
School District
Thompson Falls Elem
—
Elementary Schools
1
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.4:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
15.1%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
89.2%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Thompson Falls sees average highs of 34.0°F in January
and 86.4°F in July,
with 22.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 15.3 inches of snow per year.
Thompson Falls's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Thompson Falls roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $177,400 and median rent is $619/month.
Thompson Falls's violent crime rate is 329.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 526.7 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Thompson Falls are operated by Thompson Falls Elem.
The district has 1 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.4:1. 15.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Thompson Falls, MT has a population of 1,658, a median household income of $43,125, and an unemployment rate of 0.6%.
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.
Thompson Falls averages 34.0°F in January and 86.4°F in July. Annual rainfall is 22.1 inches
with about 15.3 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Thompson Falls, Montana is 1,658 with a median age of 46.6. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Thompson Falls: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $177,400, median household income $43,125, crime index 62 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Thompson Falls side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.
