Below Average CostVery SafeMontrose School District 43-2
Median Income
$79,250
household / year
Median Home Value
$197,300
owner-occupied
Median Rent
$493
gross / month
Cost of Living
90
national avg = 100
Is Montrose, SD a Good Place to Live?
Montrose is a small town of 543 in South Dakota, with a median household income of $79,250
and a 1.5% unemployment rate.
Its cost of living index is 90 (US average = 100), which is
10% below the national average.
Strengths:
Montrose stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (B+).
Trade-offs:
Potential downsides include longer commutes. Whether Montrose is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.
All Montrose 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: 90.3
Montrose's overall cost of living index is 90.3,
where 100 represents the US national average.
Living in Montrose costs roughly 10% less than the average American city.
Metric
Montrose, SD
National Avg
Median Home Value
$197,300
$244,900
Median Monthly Rent
$493
$1,163
Homeownership Rate
65.6%
65.9%
Median Household Income
$79,250
$74,755
Crime & Safety
Very Safe
Montrose's violent crime rate is 89.5 per 100,000 residents
— 76% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.
Violent Crime
89.5 /100k
Property Crime
393.8 /100k
Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.
Schools & Education
Montrose is served primarily by Montrose School District 43-2.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1
(better than the national average of ~16:1).
Metric
Montrose, SD
National Avg
School District
Montrose School District 43-2
—
Elementary Schools
2
—
Middle Schools
1
—
High Schools
1
—
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.7:1
16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
25.7%
35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher
91.1%
91.1%
Weather & Climate
Montrose sees average highs of 23.6°F in January
and 83.3°F in July,
with 28.1 inches of annual precipitation
and 31.0 inches of snow per year.
Montrose's cost of living index is 90, where 100 is the national average.
That makes Montrose roughly 10% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage.
The median home price is $197,300 and median rent is $493/month.
Montrose's violent crime rate is 89.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 393.8 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
Public schools in Montrose are operated by Montrose School District 43-2.
The district has 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools.
The student-to-teacher ratio is 11.7:1. 25.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Montrose, SD has a population of 543, a median household income of $79,250, and an unemployment rate of 1.5%.
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.
Montrose averages 23.6°F in January and 83.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 28.1 inches
with about 31.0 inches of snow per year.
Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).
The population of Montrose, South Dakota is 543 with a median age of 38.8. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
Key numbers for living in Montrose: cost of living index 90 (100 = US average), median home $197,300, median household income $79,250, crime index 22 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Montrose side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.