CountyScore

Broadwater County

Montana · MT

#26 in Montana
73
County Score

County Report Card

About Broadwater County, Montana

Tops the national average decisively

Broadwater's composite score of 73.0 exceeds the national median of 50.0 by 46%, placing it among America's more livable counties. It ranks above Montana's state average of 72.1, marking genuine statewide strength.

A top performer across Montana

Broadwater ranks at or above the state average, positioning it solidly in Montana's better half. It's a reliable, well-rounded county by statewide standards.

Low taxes and excellent risk management

Broadwater excels in tax burden (85.2), with an effective rate of 0.606%, and boasts the highest risk score (82.3) among this group—signaling strong financial stability and resilience. Health outcomes (72.4) round out a solid foundation.

Income potential and housing costs moderate appeal

Income scores lag at 24.9, with median household income of $63,636, and housing costs are the county's weakest area at 73.9. Median home values ($364,800) and rent ($978/month) rank among the highest in this cohort.

Perfect for affluent families seeking stability

Broadwater attracts established families or retirees with substantial wealth seeking a fiscally conservative, low-tax environment with strong community resilience. It's less suited to those dependent on local wages or first-time homebuyers.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax85.2Cost73.9SafetyComing SoonHealth72.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome24.9Risk82.3WaterComing Soon
🏛85.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠73.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼24.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤72.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡82.3
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Broadwater County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Conecuh County
Alabama
73
Median income: $42,266
Drew County
Arkansas
73
Median income: $41,071
Madison County
Arkansas
73
Median income: $53,888
Cherokee County
Iowa
73
Median income: $64,478
Spencer County
Kentucky
73
Median income: $98,333

Deep Dives

Broadwater County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Broadwater County

via TaxByCounty

Broadwater's low rate, high values balance out

At 0.606%, Broadwater County's effective tax rate ranks in the bottom 15% nationally. The median home value of $364,800—29% above the national median—results in a median tax bill of $2,210, which matches national averages despite the low rate.

Montana's lowest effective tax rate

Broadwater boasts the state's lowest effective rate at 0.606%, 21% below Montana's average of 0.767%. Median taxes of $2,210 exceed the state median of $1,802 only because Broadwater has the highest median home values in this dataset at $364,800.

Broadwater rewards expensive properties

Broadwater's 0.606% rate is the lowest among southwest Montana counties, outpacing Beaverhead (0.665%) and Carbon (0.548% is lower). The county's premium median home value of $364,800 places it in a distinct market tier where the low rate delivers real savings.

Annual tax bill on median home

A median-priced home valued at $364,800 in Broadwater County carries an annual tax bill of approximately $2,210. For mortgaged properties, expect about $2,267; without a mortgage, roughly $2,083 annually.

Especially verify luxury home assessments

High-value properties attract scrutiny, but overassessments still occur frequently in Broadwater's premium market. Owners of homes valued above $300,000 should request a reassessment if they believe comparable sales support a lower valuation.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Broadwater County

via CostByCounty

Broadwater ranks among Montana's costliest

Broadwater County's 18.4% rent-to-income ratio is the highest among these eight counties and notably above the national norm, reflecting a genuine affordability crunch. At $978/month for rent and $1,106/month for homeownership with median incomes of $63,636, residents dedicate nearly one-fifth of earnings to housing.

Broadwater struggles most in Montana context

With an 18.4% rent-to-income ratio, Broadwater significantly exceeds Montana's state average of 15.9%, marking it as the state's most housing-challenged county in this comparison. The gap widens when considering homeownership: median monthly costs of $1,106 and home values of $364,800 far outpace most neighbors.

Broadwater costs outpace all comparable counties

Broadwater's $978 rent and $1,106 monthly owner cost dwarf neighboring Big Horn ($686 rent, $537 owner cost) and Blaine ($689 rent, $533 owner cost). Even Beaverhead and Cascade offer somewhat gentler entry points, making Broadwater the region's priciest market by a substantial margin.

Housing consumes nearly one-fifth of budgets

Broadwater renters earning $63,636 spend roughly $978/month on housing—18.4% of gross income, approaching the threshold of financial strain. Homeowners face even tighter squeezes: at $1,106/month, ownership costs claim roughly 20.8% of median household income, well above financial advisors' 15% recommendation.

Broadwater: consider carefully before relocating

If you're eyeing Broadwater, weigh its high housing costs (18.4% rent-to-income) against nearby alternatives like Blaine (12.7%) or Big Horn (14.5%), which offer far more affordability. The county's premium prices reflect demand and home values, but nearby rural areas deliver similar Montana living at lower cost.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Broadwater County

via IncomeByCounty

Broadwater narrows the national income gap

Broadwater County's median household income of $63,636 falls about 15% short of the national median of $74,755. The gap is smaller than most Montana counties, reflecting the county's stronger economic position.

Slightly above Montana's average

Broadwater's $63,636 median income runs about 2% above Montana's state average of $62,295, placing it solidly in the middle of statewide earnings. Per capita income of $38,093 also exceeds the state average of $35,700.

Broadwater punches above rural peers

Broadwater's $63,636 median income clearly outpaces Big Horn ($56,680), Beaverhead ($58,072), and Chouteau ($56,927), though Carbon County ($71,017) remains the regional leader. The county benefits from proximity to Helena's economic sphere.

Higher incomes meet higher housing costs

Broadwater's rent-to-income ratio of 18.4% rises above the state average, reflecting the county's elevated home values of $364,800. The median home requires 5.7 years of household income to purchase, among the highest in Montana.

Plan for Broadwater's housing premium

Stronger incomes position Broadwater households to weather higher housing costs, but aggressive saving remains essential. Consider down payment assistance programs and 30-year mortgages to build equity while preserving liquidity for investments.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Broadwater County

via HealthByCounty

Broadwater tops national life expectancy

At 80.3 years, Broadwater County residents live 5.8 years longer than the U.S. average, achieving exceptional longevity. Only 16.9% report poor or fair health, well below the 18% national benchmark.

Among Montana's healthiest counties

Broadwater's 80.3-year life expectancy exceeds Montana's state average of 76.3 years by 4 full years. The county ranks at the top tier of state health outcomes.

Among the region's healthiest

Broadwater's 80.3-year life expectancy matches Carbon (80.4) as the region's longest-living population. Its 16.9% poor/fair health rate is better than all but Carbon (14.6%).

Excellent health but sparse providers

Despite strong outcomes, Broadwater has only 14 primary care providers per 100,000 residents—the lowest in the region—yet manages with 75 mental health providers per 100K. The 11.6% uninsured rate is near state average.

Protect Broadwater's health leadership

Broadwater's success depends on sustained coverage and access. Confirm your insurance status at healthcare.gov and encourage neighbors to do the same.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Broadwater County

via RiskByCounty

Broadwater ranks among the nation's lowest-risk counties

Broadwater County's composite risk score of 17.68 places it in the Very Low category and significantly below the national average. This exceptional rating reflects below-average exposure to most natural hazards, though the county does face above-average earthquake and wildfire risks.

Montana's safest county overall

Broadwater County ranks as the lowest-risk county in Montana with a composite score of 17.68, far below the state average of 33.31. The county's Very Low overall risk rating makes it among the most disaster-resilient communities in the state.

Significantly safer than surrounding counties

Broadwater's composite risk score (17.68) is less than half that of neighboring Beaverhead (42.88) and Chouteau (39.47), reflecting notably lower flood risk (19.08). Its earthquake risk (74.87) remains moderate compared to Beaverhead (85.66) but higher than most non-seismic regions.

Earthquakes and wildfires pose modest threats

Despite Broadwater's very low overall risk, residents should remain aware of earthquake risk (74.87) and wildfire risk (72.90), which are elevated relative to the county's otherwise benign profile. Flood risk (19.08) and tornado risk (5.12) are exceptionally low by state and national standards.

Add earthquake coverage for peace of mind

Broadwater's low overall risk means a standard homeowners policy covers most common scenarios, but adding earthquake insurance is prudent given the county's 74.87 earthquake exposure. Maintain basic wildfire awareness and defensible space, but your disaster risk is substantially lower than most Montana counties.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.