CountyScore

Carbon County

Montana · MT

#29 in Montana
72.2
County Score

County Report Card

About Carbon County, Montana

Strong national standing on composite strength

Carbon's 72.2 score beats the national median of 50.0 by 44%, solidifying it as a highly livable American county. It matches Montana's state average of 72.1, reflecting balanced, reliable performance.

Right at Montana's center of gravity

Carbon ranks essentially at the state average, placing it firmly in Montana's middle tier. It's a steady, unremarkable performer with no major comparative disadvantages statewide.

Highest income and excellent tax position

Carbon leads this cohort with the highest income score (29.7) and median household income of $71,017, plus an exceptional tax burden of just 0.548% (86.8 score). Health outcomes (75.6) are also strong, supporting overall wellbeing.

Risk profile presents some vulnerability

The risk score of 40.2 is Carbon's weakest dimension, suggesting economic or structural vulnerabilities despite strong income and tax advantages. This warrants further investigation into local industry concentration or demographic trends.

Ideal for income-earners valuing fiscal prudence

Carbon suits working families with decent incomes who want low taxes and strong health services without excessive housing costs. It's a practical choice for those seeking rural prosperity balanced with reasonable affordability.

Score breakdown

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

Tax86.8Cost77.2SafetyComing SoonHealth75.6SchoolsComing SoonIncome29.7Risk40.2WaterComing Soon
🏛86.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠77.2
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼29.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤75.6
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡40.2
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 Carbon County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Chilton County
Alabama
72.2
Median income: $61,873
Baker County
Florida
72.2
Median income: $70,833
Dade County
Georgia
72.2
Median income: $58,936
Oconee County
Georgia
72.2
Median income: $115,925
Dearborn County
Indiana
72.2
Median income: $82,693

Deep Dives

Carbon County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 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

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

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

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.