Blaine's 65.5 score sits 31% higher than the national median of 50.0, marking solid performance on a nationwide scale. Yet it trails Montana's state average of 72.1, indicating room for improvement regionally.
2 / 5
Lower-tier performance within Montana
Blaine ranks among the weaker performers across Montana, falling notably short of the state average. This reflects particular vulnerabilities in its economic and fiscal profile compared to peer counties.
3 / 5
Housing affordability and relative income strength
Blaine offers both affordability (88.0 cost score, $689/month median rent) and the highest income score (25.9) among lower-performing counties in this group, with median household income of $65,050. Health outcomes (58.5) are also respectable for a rural county.
4 / 5
Tax burden significantly erodes livability
At 1.522% effective tax rate, Blaine carries the highest tax burden among these eight counties, scoring just 59.5. This fiscal pressure offsets the gains from affordability and limits the county's overall competitive position.
Blaine works best for those who can absorb higher taxes in exchange for cheap housing and a more livable wage landscape than neighboring counties. It appeals to families seeking rural life who aren't hypersensitive to tax rates.
Blaine's 65.5 score sits 31% higher than the national median of 50.0, marking solid performance on a nationwide scale. Yet it trails Montana's state average of 72.1, indicating room for improvement regionally.
Lower-tier performance within Montana
Blaine ranks among the weaker performers across Montana, falling notably short of the state average. This reflects particular vulnerabilities in its economic and fiscal profile compared to peer counties.
Housing affordability and relative income strength
Blaine offers both affordability (88.0 cost score, $689/month median rent) and the highest income score (25.9) among lower-performing counties in this group, with median household income of $65,050. Health outcomes (58.5) are also respectable for a rural county.
Tax burden significantly erodes livability
At 1.522% effective tax rate, Blaine carries the highest tax burden among these eight counties, scoring just 59.5. This fiscal pressure offsets the gains from affordability and limits the county's overall competitive position.
Blaine works best for those who can absorb higher taxes in exchange for cheap housing and a more livable wage landscape than neighboring counties. It appeals to families seeking rural life who aren't hypersensitive to tax rates.
Score breakdown
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🏛59.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Blaine's 1.522% effective tax rate nearly doubles the national median of roughly 0.87%, placing it well above the 75th percentile nationally. With median taxes of $1,901, Blaine residents pay closer to the national median despite a home value ($124,900) far below the national average.
Montana's steepest property tax burden
Blaine County leads all Montana counties in this dataset with a 1.522% effective rate—nearly double the state average of 0.767%. The median tax bill of $1,901 exceeds the state median by $99, a substantial jump for a county with below-average home values.
Blaine leads north-central Montana in rates
At 1.522%, Blaine's effective rate far exceeds Big Horn (1.000%) and Chouteau (0.781%), making it the most tax-heavy county in the region. The smaller median home value of $124,900 compounds the burden, resulting in a high tax-to-value ratio.
Annual tax bill on median home
A median-priced home valued at $124,900 in Blaine County generates an annual tax bill of approximately $1,901. With a mortgage, taxes run about $1,943; without, approximately $1,821 annually.
Appeals especially valuable in high-tax counties
Blaine's elevated 1.522% rate means even modest assessment reductions deliver substantial annual savings. Many homeowners in high-tax counties fail to challenge assessments; a successful appeal could reduce your bill by hundreds of dollars annually.
Blaine County's 12.7% rent-to-income ratio is one of the best in the nation, significantly below the national norm and Montana's average. With median rent of just $689/month and median household income of $65,050, renters here enjoy genuine affordability while earning higher-than-many local incomes.
Blaine County leads Montana affordability rankings
At 12.7%, Blaine's rent-to-income ratio ranks as Montana's most favorable, beating the state average of 15.9% by nearly 3 percentage points. Few Montana counties offer such a cushion between housing costs and household earnings.
Blaine offers lowest rents with steady incomes
Blaine's $689 median rent rivals Big Horn ($686) and undercuts Beaverhead ($800), while median incomes of $65,050 exceed most rural peers. Home values of $124,900 represent Montana's most approachable entry point to ownership, with monthly costs around $533.
Housing takes just over one-eighth of income
A Blaine County renter earning the median $65,050 spends approximately $689/month on housing—only 12.7% of gross income, leaving substantial room for savings and other expenses. Homeowners benefit even more: at $533/month, ownership costs claim barely 9.8% of median household income.
Blaine County: Montana's most livable housing market
Relocating to Montana? Blaine County combines the state's lowest rent-to-income ratio with higher-than-average incomes, an uncommon advantage. Stack its 12.7% housing burden against costlier neighbors like Broadwater (18.4%) and Cascade (16.4%) to see the difference in your wallet.
Blaine County's median household income of $65,050 sits about 13% below the U.S. median of $74,755, but closer than many rural Montana peers. The county punches above its size in regional economic terms.
Slightly above Montana's state average
At $65,050, Blaine County's median household income runs about 4% above Montana's state average of $62,295. This positions the county among the state's stronger-performing rural economies.
Blaine leads northern Montana counties
Blaine's $65,050 median income outpaces Chouteau County ($56,927) and Big Horn County ($56,680) but trails Carbon County's $71,017. Northern and north-central Montana shows the widest income spread in the state.
Most affordable housing in the dataset
Blaine County boasts Montana's lowest rent-to-income ratio at 12.7%, freeing up significant household budgets for savings. Median home values of just $124,900—less than two years of household income—make homeownership most accessible here.
Blaine's advantage: low cost of living
With minimal housing burden, Blaine households can aggressively fund retirement accounts and investment portfolios. The county's affordability creates unusual wealth-building opportunities—seize them now before economic pressures inevitably rise.
Blaine County's life expectancy of 70.0 years falls 4.5 years short of the U.S. average of 74.5 years. At 21.7%, the poor/fair health rate exceeds the national average by 3.7 percentage points.
Below Montana's health baseline
Blaine's 70.0-year life expectancy ranks 6.3 years below Montana's state average of 76.3 years. The county needs targeted health interventions.
Middle of the pack regionally
Blaine's 70.0-year life expectancy sits between Big Horn (64.6) and higher-performing counties like Broadwater (80.3). Its 21.7% poor/fair health rate is better than Big Horn's 25.3% but worse than peers like Carbon (14.6%).
Limited primary care, strong mental health
Blaine has only 57 primary care providers per 100,000—a significant constraint—but compensates with 217 mental health providers per 100K. The 12.8% uninsured rate is slightly above state average, adding access barriers.
Bridge the coverage gap in Blaine
Blaine's 12.8% uninsured rate means over 1 in 8 residents lack coverage. Visit healthcare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE to explore options and connect with local resources.
Blaine County's risk moderately above U.S. average
Blaine County scores 45.87 on the composite risk index, positioning it as Relatively Low but notably above the national average. The county's risk is driven by wildfire exposure (69.85) and moderate flood risk (46.53), while earthquake and tornado hazards remain low by comparative standards.
Mid-tier risk profile across Montana
Blaine County ranks in the middle range of Montana's 56 counties with a composite score of 45.87, above the state average of 33.31. Its wildfire risk (69.85) is significant but lower than the county's most fire-exposed peers like Big Horn and Carbon.
Moderate fire risk relative to regional counterparts
Blaine's wildfire risk (69.85) is notably lower than Big Horn (94.85) and Carbon (93.32) but comparable to Beaverhead (84.32). Its flood risk (46.53) sits between Chouteau (50.38) and Broadwater (19.08), reflecting variable exposure to snowmelt and precipitation patterns across the region.
Wildfires and flooding are your primary concerns
Blaine County residents face meaningful wildfire risk (69.85) and moderate flood risk (46.53), making these the focus of emergency preparedness efforts. Earthquake risk (13.36) and tornado risk (6.68) are notably low, simplifying your insurance and mitigation decisions.
Secure wildfire and flood coverage today
With dual wildfire and flood exposure, Blaine residents need both specialized wildfire insurance and a separate flood policy—standard homeowners coverage excludes both. Ensure your home is in defensible condition and verify that your flood insurance accurately reflects your property's elevation and proximity to flood-prone waterways.