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Best Counties for Retirement in Montana 2026

56 counties ranked by health care, safety, tax burden, and affordability.

Top 5 Retirement Counties in Montana

1Judith Basin County
77.5
2Petroleum County
80.1
3McCone County
75.3
4Carter County
72.7
5Carbon County
64.8

All 56 Retirement-Ranked Counties in Montana

RankCountyPersona ScoreOverall Score
1Judith Basin County, MT8577.5
2Petroleum County, MT8180.1
3McCone County, MT8175.3
4Carter County, MT7872.7
5Carbon County, MT7464.8
6Madison County, MT7465.6
7Meagher County, MT7265.5
8Fallon County, MT7072.4
9Garfield County, MT7067.7
10Daniels County, MT7067.8
11Treasure County, MT6969.5
12Chouteau County, MT6965.7
13Powder River County, MT6867.7
14Beaverhead County, MT6863
15Wibaux County, MT6763.2
16Fergus County, MT6656.6
17Ravalli County, MT6658.4
18Golden Valley County, MT6469.9
19Sweet Grass County, MT6464.6
20Teton County, MT6462.9
21Jefferson County, MT6458
22Musselshell County, MT6359.7
23Wheatland County, MT6263.2
24Broadwater County, MT6254.5
25Lincoln County, MT6257.7
26Rosebud County, MT6160.2
27Granite County, MT6057.4
28Stillwater County, MT6058.9
29Sanders County, MT6060.6
30Liberty County, MT5957.1
31Mineral County, MT5854.1
32Richland County, MT5652.7
33Phillips County, MT5662.3
34Park County, MT5448.9
35Gallatin County, MT5344.2
36Pondera County, MT5351.5
37Prairie County, MT5260.2
38Dawson County, MT5247.7
39Valley County, MT5156.1
40Powell County, MT5159.5
41Blaine County, MT5054.1
42Custer County, MT4948
43Deer Lodge County, MT4648.9
44Glacier County, MT4652.6
45Lewis and Clark County, MT4438.4
46Flathead County, MT4439.8
47Sheridan County, MT4449.4
48Toole County, MT4049.1
49Missoula County, MT4035.1
50Roosevelt County, MT3746.6
51Lake County, MT3640.5
52Yellowstone County, MT3532.6
53Big Horn County, MT3542.9
54Cascade County, MT3533.5
55Silver Bow County, MT3436.4
56Hill County, MT3034.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best county for retirement in Montana?

Based on our analysis of health care access, safety, property taxes, and cost of living, Judith Basin County ranks as the top retirement county in Montana with a retirement score of 85.

How many counties in Montana are ranked for retirement?

We rank 56 counties in Montana for retirement suitability, scoring each on health care access (35%), safety (30%), property tax (20%), and cost of living (15%).

Also Browse Montana Counties For

FamiliesRemote WorkersBest Overall

Retirement Rankings by State

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Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019-2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.