CountyScore

McCone County

Montana · MT

#2 in Montana
80.7
County Score

County Report Card

About McCone County, Montana

Top-tier livability across the nation

McCone County scores 80.7 out of 100, towering over the national median of 50.0 by more than 30 points. This exceptional score places it in the highest echelon of U.S. counties for overall livability.

Montana's standout performer

With a score of 80.7, McCone County significantly exceeds Montana's state average of 72.1, making it the highest-scoring county in this group. It represents one of Montana's premier livability environments.

Affordable housing and strong health

McCone County excels across multiple dimensions: cost score of 89.3 with median rent at just $543 per month and median home value at $197,400. Health outcomes score 78.7, and the 0.674% effective tax rate is very competitive.

Limited income growth potential

The county's income score of 30.3 and median household income of $71,842 suggest limited high-wage employment opportunities. This represents the main trade-off in an otherwise highly livable rural county.

Premier choice for rural families

McCone County is ideal for families and retirees prioritizing affordability, health care access, and low taxes in a rural Montana setting. Its exceptional combination of housing costs and livability metrics makes it Montana's most livable option in this group.

Score breakdown

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

Tax83.3Cost89.3SafetyComing SoonHealth78.7SchoolsComing SoonIncome30.3Risk94.8WaterComing Soon
🏛83.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠89.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼30.3
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤78.7
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡94.8
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 McCone County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Wheeler County
Nebraska
80.8
Median income: $55,893
Greenlee County
Arizona
80.9
Median income: $75,239
Petroleum County
Montana
80.5
Median income: $59,318
Harding County
South Dakota
80.9
Median income: $74,766
Judith Basin County
Montana
81
Median income: $55,417

Deep Dives

McCone County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in McCone County

via TaxByCounty

McCone taxes just below national norm

At 0.674%, McCone County's effective tax rate runs slightly below the national median of 0.71%, landing it in the middle nationally. The median tax bill of $1,330 is 51% less than the nation's $2,690, reflecting modest home values more than tax generosity.

Mid-range rate for Montana

McCone's 0.674% effective rate sits just below Montana's 0.767% state average, making it a moderate-tax county. Its ranking falls in the lower half statewide—residents enjoy lighter burdens than most Montanans.

Modest homes, modest bills

McCone's $197,400 median home value falls between Liberty ($116,800) and Lincoln ($258,700), producing a tax bill of $1,330 that mirrors this middle ground. The county's 0.674% rate keeps costs accessible for rural property owners.

Your $1,330 annual tax bill

A typical McCone County home valued at $197,400 generates $1,330 in annual property taxes—roughly $111 monthly. With a mortgage, you'll pay $1,942; without, $1,198.

Check your appraisal value

McCone County homeowners should verify their assessments even though rates are moderate—systematic overvaluation affects rural counties too. A free reappraisal request takes weeks and could uncover errors worth hundreds in annual tax savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in McCone County

via CostByCounty

McCone County offers exceptional affordability

McCone County's 9.1% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among these eight counties and dramatically below the national 15% standard and Montana's 15.9% state average. At $543 per month, the median rent is 34% cheaper than the state average, making it one of Montana's most affordable rental markets.

Montana's affordability champion

McCone County ranks among the best for rental affordability statewide, with its 9.1% ratio nearly half Montana's 15.9% average. This northeastern county combines low rents with median household income of $71,842—close to the national median—creating a uniquely favorable housing cost environment.

Far cheaper than nearby and distant counties

McCone's $543 rent undercuts every other county in this survey by wide margins: Liberty County ($668), Lincoln County ($810), and the western counties ranging from $1,062 to $1,159. This dramatic advantage reflects McCone's remote rural character and limited real estate demand competition.

Housing costs barely dent household budgets

Renters earning the median $71,842 spend approximately $6,516 annually on rent—just 9.1% of gross income—leaving substantial funds for other necessities. Homeowners paying $635 monthly ($7,620 yearly) enjoy similarly low ownership costs relative to income, with median home values of $197,400.

Remote workers should consider McCone seriously

McCone County's 9.1% rent-to-income ratio and $543 rents create unbeatable affordability for remote workers or those with portable income. Rural isolation and limited local services are trade-offs, but if you can work from anywhere, McCone offers exceptional financial breathing room.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in McCone County

via IncomeByCounty

McCone punches above its weight

McCone County's median household income of $71,842 exceeds 50% of U.S. counties and comes within $2,913 of the national median of $74,755. This strength is surprising for a rural county, driven by energy production and agricultural consolidation.

Montana's fourth-richest county

McCone County ranks among Montana's highest-earning counties at $71,842, $9,547 above the state median of $62,295. Energy development and large-scale ranching operations generate outsized household incomes despite the county's small population.

Wealth island in rural Montana

McCone County ($71,842) significantly outearns Liberty ($53,264), Lincoln ($47,018), and Meagher ($56,215) counties, rivaling larger urban centers. Its economic punch reflects oil and gas operations and agricultural scale.

Housing costs barely a burden

McCone County boasts the lowest rent-to-income ratio (9.1%) of any county examined here, and the median home value of $197,400 is highly affordable relative to income. This combination creates exceptional housing accessibility.

Leverage low housing costs for investing

With housing consuming just 9% of median income, McCone County households have the strongest foundation for saving and investing among these eight counties. Building wealth here means directing housing savings into retirement accounts, diversified portfolios, and long-term security.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in McCone County

via HealthByCounty

McCone thrives with longevity

McCone County's 83.5-year life expectancy substantially exceeds the U.S. average of 77.6 years, placing it among the nation's healthier communities. Just 13.5% report poor or fair health, below the national 16.5% rate, indicating relatively low chronic disease burden.

Montana's robust health leader

McCone County leads Montana with an 83.5-year life expectancy, more than 7 years above the state average of 76.3. At 10.9% uninsured—below Montana's 11.9% average—McCone also ranks better for healthcare coverage than most state peers.

Limited data, strong overall health

Primary care and mental health provider data for McCone County are not currently available, limiting direct comparison to neighboring counties. Despite this data gap, the county's strong life expectancy and low poor-health reporting suggest adequate local healthcare capacity.

Strong outcomes despite data gaps

McCone County's excellent health metrics—83.5-year life expectancy and just 13.5% poor/fair health—suggest solid underlying healthcare access. While specific provider counts are unavailable, the 10.9% uninsured rate indicates most residents have coverage when they need care.

Stay covered and healthy

McCone County's 10.9% uninsured rate is among Montana's best, but nearly 1 in 10 residents still lack coverage. If you're uninsured or underinsured, now is the time to act—find plans at Healthcare.gov or contact your county health department.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in McCone County

via RiskByCounty

McCone County enjoys minimal disaster risk

McCone County's composite risk score of 5.25 places it in the very low category, far below both national and state averages. This county represents one of Montana's safest areas from natural disaster exposure.

Among Montana's lowest-risk counties

At 5.25, McCone County ranks well below Montana's 33.31 state average, positioning it among the state's least hazard-exposed areas. Only a handful of Montana counties show comparably low composite risk scores.

Comparable safety to Liberty County

McCone County's score of 5.25 nearly matches Liberty County at 6.30, making both counties among the state's safest regions. The northeastern Montana area benefits from significantly lower disaster exposure than most of the state.

Wildfire presents the main exposure

Wildfire risk at 48.57 represents McCone County's highest hazard score, though this remains below state averages for fire exposure. All other hazards score below 11, with tornado at 10.85 and earthquake at 9.99.

Standard insurance provides good protection

McCone County's minimal risk profile means standard homeowners insurance typically offers adequate coverage for most properties in the county. Residents should still verify wildfire coverage and review their policy limits periodically as property values change.

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.