Carter's 80.1 score crushes the national median of 50.0 by 60%, making it one of America's most livable counties. It stands 11% above Montana's state average of 72.1, a significant edge.
2 / 5
Top-ranked county across Montana
Carter is the clear statewide leader among these eight counties, earning its position through exceptional fundamentals. It represents the gold standard for Montana livability.
3 / 5
Unmatched tax burden and risk resilience
Carter boasts the lowest effective tax rate at 0.443% (tax score 89.8) and an extraordinary risk score of 98.3—the highest in this entire cohort, signaling exceptional financial stability. Affordability (86.5) and health (76.6) both rank in the top tier.
4 / 5
Low wages offset fiscal strengths
Income scores bottom out at 17.4, with median household income of just $52,171—the lowest in this group. This reflects a county where fiscal benefits can't fully compensate for limited earning potential.
5 / 5
Perfect for retirees and remote-income families
Carter is the ideal county for retirees, investors, or remote workers who don't depend on local wages but highly value tax efficiency and financial stability. It's Montana's premier low-tax haven for those with secure outside income.
Carter's 80.1 score crushes the national median of 50.0 by 60%, making it one of America's most livable counties. It stands 11% above Montana's state average of 72.1, a significant edge.
Top-ranked county across Montana
Carter is the clear statewide leader among these eight counties, earning its position through exceptional fundamentals. It represents the gold standard for Montana livability.
Unmatched tax burden and risk resilience
Carter boasts the lowest effective tax rate at 0.443% (tax score 89.8) and an extraordinary risk score of 98.3—the highest in this entire cohort, signaling exceptional financial stability. Affordability (86.5) and health (76.6) both rank in the top tier.
Low wages offset fiscal strengths
Income scores bottom out at 17.4, with median household income of just $52,171—the lowest in this group. This reflects a county where fiscal benefits can't fully compensate for limited earning potential.
Perfect for retirees and remote-income families
Carter is the ideal county for retirees, investors, or remote workers who don't depend on local wages but highly value tax efficiency and financial stability. It's Montana's premier low-tax haven for those with secure outside income.
Score breakdown
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🏛89.8
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
At 0.443%, Carter County's effective tax rate ranks in the nation's bottom 5%, far below the national median of roughly 0.87%. The median tax bill of just $782 is the lowest in this dataset and represents a 71% savings versus the national median of $2,690.
Montana's most tax-friendly county
Carter County's 0.443% effective rate is 42% below Montana's state average of 0.767%, the lowest by far in this dataset. The median tax bill of $782 trails the state median of $1,802 by nearly $1,000, delivering exceptional savings to residents.
Carter stands alone in affordability
Carter's 0.443% rate dramatically undercuts even the state's second-lowest county, Broadwater at 0.606%. With a median home value of $176,600, Carter residents enjoy both low rates and modest prices—a rare combination offering maximum tax relief.
Annual tax bill on median home
A median-priced home valued at $176,600 in Carter County carries an annual tax bill of just $782. With a mortgage, expect about $1,208; without one, approximately $662 annually.
Even in low-tax counties, verify assessments
While Carter County's 0.443% rate is exceptionally low, property owners should still confirm their assessments reflect current market values. An appeal is simpler in low-rate counties and could eliminate any overpayment entirely.
Carter County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio exceeds the national norm, as renters earning $52,171—the lowest median income in this comparison—spend $731/month on housing. This combination of below-average wages and persistent housing costs creates genuine affordability strain.
Carter ranks among Montana's most challenged
At 16.8%, Carter's rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds Montana's state average of 15.9%, placing it among the state's most housing-burdened counties. The pressure intensifies when considering that Carter's median income of $52,171 is the lowest in this group.
Carter struggles despite modest rents
Carter's $731 median rent is below Big Horn ($686) and Blaine ($689) but exceeds no neighboring county except Beaverhead, Cascade, and Carbon. The county's real challenge stems from low median incomes of $52,171—the group's weakest—making even modest rents unaffordable.
Low incomes strain housing affordability
A Carter County renter earning the median $52,171 spends roughly $731/month on housing—16.8% of gross income, limiting resources for other necessities. Homeowners fare slightly better at $581/month (11.1% of income), but the county's overall economic picture reflects rural Montana's wage challenges.
Carter: weigh low wages against modest costs
Considering Carter County? Its 16.8% rent-to-income ratio reflects tight budgets, though rents themselves remain moderate compared to urban markets. Compare Carter's affordability pressures against higher-income counties like Blaine (12.7%) or Carbon (14.9%) before making the move.
Carter County's median household income of $52,171 lags the national median of $74,755 by 30%, the widest gap among the eight counties analyzed. This reflects the acute economic pressures facing rural southeastern Montana.
Montana's lowest income in this group
Carter's $52,171 median household income runs 16% below Montana's state average of $62,295, making it the state's weakest earner among these counties. The county faces persistent economic headwinds tied to declining resource extraction.
Carter lags all regional comparisons
Carter County's $52,171 median income trails every other analyzed county, including Big Horn ($56,680) and Beaverhead ($58,072). The county represents Montana's most economically vulnerable corner in this dataset.
Low incomes, manageable housing costs
Carter's rent-to-income ratio of 16.8% runs slightly above average, and median home values of $176,600 represent 3.4 years of household income. Housing remains the most affordable expense category, but overall income insufficiency strains other budgets.
Building financial resilience in Carter
Limited incomes require disciplined budgeting and focus on financial fundamentals—establish an emergency fund before investing. Pursue skill development and education to increase earning potential, and investigate local economic development initiatives that may create opportunity.
While detailed life expectancy data is unavailable, Carter's 16.1% poor/fair health rate closely matches the national average of 18%. The county requires more robust health surveillance to guide improvements.
Matching state health benchmarks
Carter's 11.9% uninsured rate mirrors Montana's state average exactly, indicating typical coverage patterns. Limited data prevents deeper state-level comparison.
Data gaps limit peer comparison
With life expectancy unavailable, regional peer comparison is incomplete. Carter's 16.1% poor/fair health rate falls between Broadwater (16.9%) and Carbon (14.6%), suggesting mid-range regional health.
Provider data incomplete, coverage typical
Healthcare provider counts are unavailable for Carter County, limiting assessment of local access capacity. The 11.9% uninsured rate matches state average—meaningful for coverage but gaps in provider supply remain unknown.
Ensure coverage and data completeness
Carter residents should verify insurance at healthcare.gov and help improve local health data by participating in health surveys. Complete information enables better community health planning.
Carter County is exceptionally low-risk nationally
Carter County's composite risk score of 1.75 ranks it among the lowest-risk counties in the entire United States. This exceptional rating reflects below-average exposure to nearly all major natural hazards, from floods to earthquakes.
Montana's safest county by far
Carter County's composite score of 1.75 is the lowest in Montana, far below the state average of 33.31 and even lower than other very-low-risk counties. The county's Very Low rating reflects minimal exposure across nearly all hazard categories.
Far safer than any surrounding county
Carter County's risk (1.75) is dramatically lower than all neighboring counties; even Broadwater (17.68), Montana's next-safest county, scores 10 times higher. This exceptional safety profile is consistent across all hazard types, from flood to earthquake to tornado.
Minimal natural disaster risk across the board
Carter County residents enjoy remarkably low exposure to natural hazards, with all risk categories below state and national medians. Even the county's highest risks—wildfire (73.82) and tornado (7.60)—remain substantially lower than those of neighboring counties and the state average.
Standard homeowners insurance provides excellent coverage
Carter County's minimal disaster risk means a standard homeowners insurance policy adequately protects most residents. Focus on standard coverage limits and routine maintenance; specialized disaster insurance is unlikely to be cost-effective in your exceptionally safe county.