countyscore
64.8
County Score
Safety 87.8Property Tax 80.9Health 74.4

County Report Card

About Carbon County, Montana

Far ahead of national averages

Carbon County earns an impressive composite score of 64.8, placing it well above the national median of 50.0. This high score reflects a combination of safety, health, and economic prosperity.

One of Montana's premier counties

At 64.8, Carbon County easily beats the Montana state average of 56.4. It represents one of the most desirable regions in the state for those seeking a high overall quality of life.

Elite safety and health metrics

The county boasts an elite safety score of 87.8 and a strong health score of 74.4. Furthermore, its tax score of 80.9 is buoyed by a very low effective tax rate of 0.548%.

High barriers to entry

Cost is the primary challenge here, with a cost score of 37.6 reflecting median home values of $379,300. Additionally, the water score of 26.3 indicates room for improvement in environmental infrastructure.

Perfect for affluent active families

Carbon County is an excellent fit for families with higher incomes who prioritize wellness and security. It offers a premium lifestyle where the higher cost of real estate is offset by safety and low taxes.

Score breakdown

Tax80.9Cost37.6Safety87.8Health74.4Schools63.3Income68.9Risk40.2Water26.3Weather36
🏛80.9
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠37.6
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼68.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡87.8
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
CrimeByCounty →
❤74.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓63.3
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
SchoolsByCounty →
⚡40.2
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧26.3
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades
WaterByCounty →
🌤36
Weather & Climate
Average temperatures, precipitation, and extreme weather events
WeatherByCounty →
🪨
Soil Quality
Soil composition, pH, drainage, and organic matter content
SoilByCounty →
🌱40.4
Lawn Care
Lawn difficulty score based on climate, soil, and grass suitability
LawnByCounty →
🛒
Farmers Markets
Local market density, SNAP/EBT acceptance, and product variety
MarketsByCounty →
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Explore this county

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Nearby counties

Stillwater County
Montana
58.8
Sweet Grass County
Montana
64.6
Yellowstone County
Montana
32.6
Big Horn County
Wyoming
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Big Horn County
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Golden Valley County
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Park County
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Park County
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Deep Dives

Carbon County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 10 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Carbon County

via TaxByCounty

Carbon County's lowest rate, highest values

Carbon's 0.548% effective tax rate is the nation's lowest in this dataset, yet the median home value of $379,300 generates a $2,080 tax bill—near the national median of $2,690. This reflects Carbon's unusual position as a low-rate county with premium properties.

Second-lowest rate, highest home values

Carbon ranks second in Montana for lowest effective rate at 0.548%, just below Broadwater's 0.606%. With median home values of $379,300—the highest in this dataset—the county's median tax of $2,080 exceeds the state median by $278, a testament to property values outpacing the low rate.

Carbon combines low rates with premium prices

Carbon's 0.548% rate trails Broadwater (0.606%) and Beaverhead (0.665%), but its $379,300 median home value far exceeds both neighbors. This creates a paradox: the lowest rates paired with the highest absolute tax bills in southwest Montana.

Annual tax bill on median home

A median-priced home valued at $379,300 in Carbon County generates an annual tax bill of approximately $2,080. With a mortgage, expect about $1,980; without one, roughly $2,219 annually.

High values warrant careful assessment review

Carbon County's premium home values mean even small percentage errors in assessment translate to hundreds in taxes. Request a full reassessment if recent comparable sales suggest your home's appraised value exceeds its true market worth.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Carbon County

via CostByCounty

Carbon strikes balance in housing costs

Carbon County's 14.9% rent-to-income ratio sits nearly at the national norm, with renters paying $882/month on median household incomes of $71,017. This near-equilibrium reflects both higher local wages and moderately priced housing, compared to several Montana peers.

Carbon performs slightly above state average

At 14.9%, Carbon's rent-to-income ratio beats Montana's state average of 15.9%, positioning it as a moderate-affordability county. The county's higher median income of $71,017 provides more breathing room than many rural Montana neighbors.

Carbon rents moderate, ownership steep

Carbon's $882 monthly rent sits between Beaverhead ($800) and Cascade ($902), offering middle-ground pricing for renters. However, homebuyers face the region's steepest costs: median home values of $379,300 and monthly owner costs of $1,003 exceed all comparable counties except Broadwater.

Renters fare better than homeowners here

Carbon renters earning $71,017 spend roughly $882/month on housing—14.9% of gross income, a manageable share. Homeowners, however, dedicate $1,003/month to ownership costs—roughly 16.9% of income—reflecting the county's elevated property values and mortgage pressures.

Carbon County: strong incomes, premium homes

Relocating to Carbon? The county rewards renters with solid affordability (14.9%) and higher-than-average incomes, but challenges homebuyers with premium property costs. Compare its 14.9% rent burden against pricier Broadwater (18.4%) or more affordable Blaine (12.7%) to decide if Carbon fits your plans.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Carbon County

via IncomeByCounty

Carbon County nears the national median

Carbon County's median household income of $71,017 sits just 5% below the U.S. median of $74,755, making it Montana's strongest-earning county in this dataset. The county ranks among America's upper-middle-income rural areas.

Montana's top earner in this group

Carbon County's $71,017 median household income runs 14% above Montana's state average of $62,295 and is the highest among the eight counties analyzed. Per capita income of $42,734 similarly leads the state average of $35,700.

Carbon significantly outearns regional peers

Carbon's $71,017 median income substantially exceeds all compared counties: Broadwater ($63,636), Cascade ($66,203), Blaine ($65,050), and Chouteau ($56,927). The county's economic strength reflects stable employment and industrial investment.

Strong income meets premium housing costs

Carbon's rent-to-income ratio of 14.9% remains healthy despite median home values of $379,300—the dataset's highest. The median home requires 5.3 years of household income, demanding significant savings but within reach for career-established households.

Leverage Carbon's economic strength

With the region's highest incomes and per capita earnings, Carbon County households can aggressively build wealth through retirement accounts, real estate equity, and diversified investments. Start maxing out 401(k)s and consider additional investment properties as portfolio diversification.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Carbon County

via CrimeByCounty

Top-Tier National Safety

Carbon County boasts an impressive safety score of 99.6, making it one of the safest places in America. The total crime rate of 263.0 per 100K is roughly 10% of the national average.

Standout State Performer

Carbon County is a standout in Montana, with a crime rate far lower than the state average of 1,112.5. It easily exceeds the state's average safety score of 98.2.

Safer Than Regional Neighbors

Compared to neighboring Big Horn County's rate of 1,711.2, Carbon County is significantly more secure. Residents enjoy one of the lowest crime environments in the entire region.

Minimal Criminal Activity

Property crime is exceptionally low at 178.5 per 100K, and violent crime is just 84.5. These numbers mean that serious incidents are rare occurrences for the local population.

Preserving Local Peace

Maintaining this level of safety relies on community vigilance and reporting suspicious activity. Simple steps like using smart doorbells can help keep property crime rates at their current lows.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Health in Carbon County

via HealthByCounty

Carbon exceeds U.S. health benchmarks

Carbon County's 80.4-year life expectancy surpasses the U.S. average by 5.9 years. At just 14.6% reporting poor or fair health, residents enjoy well-above-average wellness.

Montana's healthiest county

Carbon's 80.4-year life expectancy leads Montana's state average by 4.1 years, ranking as the state's top health performer. The county is a model of population wellness.

Clear regional health leader

Carbon's 80.4-year life expectancy edges out Broadwater (80.3) as the region's longest-living population. Its 14.6% poor/fair health rate is the best among all eight counties studied.

Good access, lowest uninsured rate

Carbon offers 65 primary care providers and 105 mental health providers per 100,000 residents—solid regional access. At just 10.4% uninsured, Carbon boasts Montana's lowest uninsured rate, ensuring nearly complete coverage.

Carbon's coverage success is replicable

Carbon's low uninsured rate shows what's possible: visit healthcare.gov to join neighbors in staying covered. Community health plans and Medicaid options can help everyone access care.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Schools in Carbon County

via SchoolsByCounty

Extensive Rural School Infrastructure

Carbon County manages 19 public schools across nine districts, supporting 1,414 students. The system is evenly distributed with seven elementary, six middle, and six high schools serving its various communities.

High Performance and Strong Investment

The 88.4% graduation rate surpasses both state and national averages, reflecting the county's school score of 58.7. Spending reaches $9,775 per pupil, which is well above the Montana state average of $9,334.

Bridger and Red Lodge Communities

Bridger K-12 Schools is one of the larger districts with 199 students across three schools. The county relies entirely on traditional public schools, with no charter options currently available.

Intimate Classrooms in the Mountains

Every school in the county operates in a rural locale, resulting in a small average school size of 74 students. Mountain View School is the most populated campus with 205 students, ensuring every child receives significant individual attention.

Quality Education in a Rural Setting

High graduation rates make Carbon County a premier choice for education-focused homebuyers. Explore residential options in Red Lodge or Bridger to benefit from some of the state's most successful small schools.

Full schools analysis on SchoolsByCounty

Disaster Risk in Carbon County

via RiskByCounty

Carbon County faces elevated multi-hazard risk nationally

Carbon County scores 59.80 on the composite risk index, placing it well above the national average and in the upper tier of U.S. counties by disaster exposure. This rating reflects high wildfire risk (93.32), significant flood risk (72.26), and moderate earthquake exposure.

Among Montana's highest-risk counties

Carbon County ranks in the top tier of Montana's 56 counties with a composite score of 59.80, nearly double the state average of 33.31. Only a handful of Montana counties face comparable multi-hazard exposure.

Most fire-prone county in the region

Carbon County's wildfire risk (93.32) is among the highest in the state, matching Big Horn (94.85) and substantially exceeding all neighboring counties. Its flood risk (72.26) also significantly exceeds nearby Beaverhead (36.32) and Broadwater (19.08), reflecting the county's complex mountain-valley terrain.

Wildfires and floods are critical threats

Carbon County residents face exceptional wildfire risk (93.32) and significant flood risk (72.26), creating a dual-threat environment unlike most of Montana. Tornado risk (17.08) is moderate, and earthquake risk (53.59) is substantial but not the county's dominant concern.

Wildfire and flood insurance are essential

Carbon County's extreme wildfire and flood exposure make these coverage types non-negotiable; standard homeowners policies exclude both. Work immediately with an insurance agent to secure wildfire coverage, verify flood insurance adequacy, and create defensible space around your home—these steps are critical to your family's financial security.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

Weather & Climate in Carbon County

via WeatherByCounty

Rugged Terrain With Cool Averages

Carbon County’s annual average temperature of 44.3°F sits below the national median. Its location at the foot of the Beartooth Mountains dictates this temperate mountain climate.

Aligned With Montana's Thermal Average

At 44.3°F, the county is just slightly warmer than the Montana state average of 43.7°F. It balances high-altitude cold with warmer valley winds.

Heavy Snowfall Compared to Neighbors

Carbon County receives a massive 74.4 inches of snow annually, nearly double that of neighboring Big Horn. Its 15.7 inches of precipitation is also slightly above the state average.

Brisk Winters and High Snow Totals

July averages 67.9°F with 23 days reaching over 90°F. However, winter is the dominant season, featuring a 24.9°F average and significant snow accumulation.

Heavy-Duty Snow Removal is Essential

With over 74 inches of snow, residents must have reliable four-wheel drive and professional-grade snow blowers. Homeowners should also check roof load ratings for heavy winter accumulation.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Carbon County

via SoilByCounty

Carbon County's Soil Chemistry

Digital data for Carbon County's soil taxonomy and pH is not currently available. Most Montana soil is more alkaline than the national median of 6.5, often nearing the state average of 7.43. A professional soil test is the best way to uncover your specific pH and tax order.

Understanding Local Texture Profiles

The breakdown of sand, silt, and clay for this area remains unquantified in the current dataset. These elements determine how well your soil drains and how much effort is needed to till the land. Local variation is common, so check your soil's feel to plan your gardening strategy.

Building Fertile Soils in Carbon

Organic matter and water capacity data are currently unlisted for the county. For comparison, the average Montana soil has an organic matter content of 2.54%. Improving your soil's ability to hold water close to the state average of 0.165 in/in will ensure more resilient harvests.

Managing Hydrology on the Land

There is currently no data on dominant drainage classes or hydrologic groups for Carbon County. Proper water management is vital for preventing erosion on slopes and maintaining healthy root systems. Watch your land during the spring thaw to understand its natural drainage behavior.

Thriving in Hardiness Zone 5a

Carbon County is in USDA Hardiness Zone 5a, which supports a wide range of cold-tolerant fruits and vegetables. Apples and hardy stone fruits often find a happy home in this climate. Get started by planting varieties that can handle the occasional late-spring snow.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Carbon County

via LawnByCounty

Solid Growing Potential in Carbon County

With a lawn difficulty score of 40.4, Carbon County offers a much easier experience than the Montana state average. Its Zone 5a hardiness and slightly better rainfall make it a competitive spot for residential turf.

Balanced Moisture and Growing Days

Your annual precipitation of 15.7 inches actually beats the state average of 15.4 inches. With 23 extreme heat days and 1,836 growing degree days, the climate supports a healthy, active growing season from May through September.

A Natural Base for Green Grass

Local soil data is currently unavailable, but the moderate rainfall suggests a relatively stable soil environment. To prepare for the May 29th last frost date, focus on clearing debris and checking for soil compaction that occurred over the winter.

Staying Ahead of Abnormal Dryness

While Carbon County saw only 17 weeks of drought last year, 86.6% of the area is currently abnormally dry. Maintaining a consistent irrigation schedule now will prevent your turf from slipping into dormancy during the next dry spell.

A Mid-Spring Start for Best Results

The window between the May 29th frost and the September 19th freeze is your prime time for lawn care. Standard cool-season grasses like Perennial Ryegrass and Kentucky Bluegrass thrive in these Carbon County conditions.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Carbon County's county score?
Carbon County, Montana has a composite county score of 64.8 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Carbon County rank among counties in Montana?
Carbon County ranks #14 among all counties in Montana on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Carbon County, Montana?
The median annual property tax in Carbon County is $2,080, with an effective tax rate of 0.55%. This earns Carbon County a tax score of 80.9/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Carbon County?
The median household income in Carbon County, Montana is $71,017 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Carbon County earns an income score of 68.9/100 on CountyScore.
Is Carbon County, Montana a good place to live?
Carbon County scores 64.8/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #14 in Montana. The best way to evaluate Carbon County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Carbon County with other counties side by side.

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality🌤Weather & Climate🪨Soil Quality🌱Lawn Care🛒Farmers Markets

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