Valier is a small town of 576 in Montana, with a median household income of $45,625
and a 5.3% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 89 (US average = 100), which is
11% below the national average.
Strengths:
Valier 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 Valier is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Valier 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: 88.9
Valier's overall cost of living index is 88.9,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Valier costs roughly 11% less than the average American city.
Metric
Valier, MT
National Avg
Median Home Value
$130,800
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$727
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
77.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$45,625
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Valier's violent crime rate is 101.5 per 100,000 residents
— 73% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
101.5 /100k
Property Crime
693.6 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Valier is served primarily by Valier Elem.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Valier, MT
National Avg
School District
Valier Elem
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
N/A
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
8.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
23.3%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
93.9%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Valier sees average highs of 35.1°F in January
and 81.5°F in July,
with 12.6 inches of annual precipitation
and 46.8 inches of snow per year.
Valier's cost of living index is 89, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Valier roughly 11% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $130,800 and median rent is $727/month.
Valier's violent crime rate is 101.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 693.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Valier are operated by Valier Elem.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and several high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1. 23.3% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Valier, MT has a population of 576, a median household income of $45,625, and an unemployment rate of 5.3%.
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.
Valier averages 35.1°F in January and 81.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 12.6 inches
with about 46.8 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
Valier, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: 59486.
The population of Valier, Montana is 576 with a median age of 50.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Valier: cost of living index 89 (100 = US average), median home $130,800, median household income $45,625, crime index 29 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Valier side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.