Is West Glacier, MT a Good Place to Live?
West Glacier is a small town of 174 in Montana, with a median household income of $68,281 and a 3.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.
Strengths: West Glacier stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.
Trade-offs: Potential downsides include high home prices. Whether West Glacier is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All West Glacier 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: 96.8West Glacier's overall cost of living index is 96.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in West Glacier costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.
| Metric | West Glacier, MT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $562,500 | $244,900 |
| Median Monthly Rent | $788 | $1,163 |
| Homeownership Rate | 57.9% | 65.9% |
| Median Household Income | $68,281 | $74,755 |
Crime & Safety
Safer than AverageWest Glacier's violent crime rate is 330.4 per 100,000 residents — 13% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
West Glacier is served primarily by West Glacier Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 8.7:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).
| Metric | West Glacier, MT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| School District | West Glacier Elem | — |
| Elementary Schools | 1 | — |
| Middle Schools | N/A | — |
| High Schools | N/A | — |
| Student/Teacher Ratio | 8.7:1 | 16:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 64.4% | 35.4% |
| High School Diploma or Higher | 95.2% | 91.1% |
Weather & Climate
West Glacier sees average highs of 29.9°F in January and 80.2°F in July, with 30.9 inches of annual precipitation and 115.2 inches of snow per year.
| Metric | West Glacier, MT |
|---|---|
| Average High — January | 29.9°F |
| Average High — July | 80.2°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 30.9" |
| Annual Snowfall | 115.2" |
Demographics
| Metric | West Glacier, MT | National Avg |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 174 | — |
| Median Age | 46.6 | 38.9 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 3.7% |
| Avg Commute Time | 17.0 min | 26 min |
| White (non-Hispanic) | 94.8% | 59.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.0% | 13.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 0.0% | 18.9% |
| Asian | 0.0% | 6.3% |
| Under 18 | 7.5% | 22.2% |
| 65 and over | 25.3% | 16.8% |
Nearby Cities
ZIP Codes in West Glacier
West Glacier, MT is covered by 1 ZIP code: