CountyScore

Prairie County

Montana · MT

#28 in Montana
72.3
County Score

County Report Card

About Prairie County, Montana

Above Average, but Income Concerns

Prairie County scores 72.3, nearly 45% above the national median of 50.0, reflecting strong affordability and stability metrics. However, this score masks a significant weakness in income generation that limits overall prosperity.

Slightly Above Montana's Average

At 72.3, Prairie County ranks just above Montana's 72.1 state average, performing close to the middle of statewide county performance. The tight margin reflects a fairly typical Montana rural profile with balanced trade-offs.

Ultra-Affordable and Highly Stable

Prairie County features a cost score of 83.3 with median rent of $827/month and homes valued at $167,100, alongside a risk score of 95.8 indicating exceptional stability. These factors create a secure, low-cost environment for budget-conscious households.

Lowest Income in the Group

Prairie County's income score of 12.9 is by far the lowest among these eight counties, with a median household income of just $45,192. This severe income gap significantly constrains wealth-building potential and economic opportunity.

Best for Secure Retirees Only

Prairie County is ideal for retirees with fixed pensions or Social Security income seeking minimal living expenses and maximum stability. Working-age families and those building wealth should look elsewhere, as local earning potential is severely limited.

Score breakdown

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

Tax78.2Cost83.3SafetyComing SoonHealth63.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome12.9Risk95.8WaterComing Soon
🏛78.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠83.3
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼12.9
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤63.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡95.8
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 Prairie County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Butler County
Alabama
72.3
Median income: $44,881
Choctaw County
Alabama
72.3
Median income: $44,483
Hale County
Alabama
72.3
Median income: $41,325
Pike County
Alabama
72.3
Median income: $47,961
Gilchrist County
Florida
72.3
Median income: $61,070

Deep Dives

Prairie County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Prairie County

via TaxByCounty

Prairie County taxes above national average

Prairie County's effective rate of 0.855% sits above the national median of 0.84%, placing it in the 55th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $1,428 remains well below the national median of $2,690, reflecting smaller homes typical of rural Montana.

Among Montana's higher-taxed counties

At 0.855%, Prairie County's effective rate ranks above the Montana state average of 0.767%, positioning it among the higher-taxed counties statewide. Only a handful of Montana counties exceed this rate.

Second-highest rates in the region

Prairie County's 0.855% rate trails only Pondera (0.884%) among this eight-county group, exceeding Phillips (0.848%), Powder River (0.828%), and all others. Regional homeowners face a notably higher tax burden in Prairie than in most neighboring counties.

Median home costs $1,428 yearly

A home valued at Prairie County's median of $167,100 generates roughly $1,428 in annual property taxes at the 0.855% rate. Data on mortgage-holder taxes is limited, but owners without mortgages pay approximately $1,463.

Review your assessment carefully

Prairie County's above-average tax rate underscores the importance of accurate assessments. If your home's assessed value appears high compared to recent sales in your area, file a free appeal with the county assessor—overassessments are common and correcting them could provide meaningful annual savings.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Prairie County

via CostByCounty

Prairie County faces severe affordability crisis

Prairie County's rent-to-income ratio of 22.0% is the highest in this analysis and far exceeds the national average—renters here dedicate over one-fifth of household income to housing alone. With the lowest median household income of just $45,192 and median rents of $827 monthly, Prairie County households face genuine affordability strain.

Montana's most strained rental market

Prairie County's 22.0% rent-to-income ratio crushes Montana's 15.9% state average by over 6 percentage points, making it the state's least affordable county by far. The median rent of $827 sits just $2 above the state median, but the county's low income of $45,192 creates an acute affordability crisis.

Income crisis drives affordability disaster

Prairie County's $827 median rent is competitive regionally, but the median household income of $45,192—$8,364 below Pondera County and $22,817 below Powder River County—creates the region's worst affordability. This income gap, not high rents, drives Prairie's 22.0% rent-to-income ratio.

Housing consumes half of some budgets

Renters in Prairie County pay $827 monthly (22.0% of median household income of $45,192), while homeowners spend $672 monthly (17.8% of income). Even homeownership here strains budgets significantly—Prairie County represents the region's most economically challenged housing landscape.

Prairie County poses relocation risks

Prairie County's 22.0% rent-to-income ratio and $45,192 median income signal serious affordability challenges for relocating families unless paired with significantly higher local job prospects. Carefully evaluate income opportunities before moving; neighboring Pondera County (18.1% ratio) or Phillips County (12.9% ratio) offer substantially better housing accessibility.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Prairie County

via IncomeByCounty

Prairie County faces severe income challenges

Prairie County's median household income of $45,192 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by 39%—one of America's steepest gaps and a marker of significant economic hardship. The per capita income of $29,068 falls 25% below the national average, reflecting both low wages and concentrated household poverty. This income profile places Prairie among the nation's economically most challenged counties.

Montana's lowest-income county

Prairie County's median household income of $45,192 ranks dead last among Montana's 56 counties, trailing the state average of $62,295 by 27%. The per capita income of $29,068 represents the state's lowest, falling 19% below Montana's average of $35,700. Prairie faces the state's most serious economic challenges and requires targeted economic development.

Dramatically outpaced by all regional peers

Prairie's $45,192 median income lags every neighbor by substantial margins: Phillips ($58,156), Powder River ($68,009), and Petroleum ($59,318) all significantly outperform. At $45,192, Prairie earns $13,000 annually less than its closest competitor—a 22% disadvantage. This gap reflects severe agricultural depression, limited employment diversity, and population decline in the county.

Affordability alone insufficient for security

Prairie County's median home value of $167,100 represents 3.7 years of median household income—affordable relative to earnings—but the 22% rent-to-income ratio signals severe household budget stress. At roughly $3,766 monthly household income before taxes, Prairie families face genuine hardship covering healthcare, transportation, childcare, and education. Low housing costs provide limited relief from fundamental income inadequacy.

Education and out-migration as strategies

Prairie County residents should prioritize education and skill development as escape routes from agricultural dependency; community college programs and trade certifications often lead to 30-50% income gains. Consider whether remote work or strategic relocation to higher-wage counties offers better long-term financial outcomes than staying in a declining local economy. Government assistance programs, low-income tax credits, and grant funding should be actively pursued to maximize available resources.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Prairie County

via HealthByCounty

Highest poor health rate in the group

Prairie County's 22.9% poor/fair health rate is the highest among these eight counties and substantially exceeds the US average of 16%, signaling significant population health challenges. Life expectancy data is not currently available, but this elevated health burden suggests the county faces serious chronic disease or healthcare access issues.

Alarming health concerns statewide

Prairie County's 22.9% poor/fair health rate far exceeds Montana's typical range and ranks as the worst among this eight-county sample. Without published life expectancy data, the poor/fair health metric alone suggests Prairie County residents experience notably worse health than peers across Montana.

Health outcomes lag all peers

Prairie County's 22.9% poor/fair health rate dramatically exceeds all measured neighbors—nearly 4 points above Powder River's 18.6% and Pondera's 17.6%. Limited provider data prevents detailed comparison, but the health disparity is stark and demands investigation and intervention.

Highest uninsured, fewest resources

Prairie County's uninsured rate of 14.6% is the highest among these eight counties and well above Montana's 11.9% average, meaning roughly 1 in 6.8 residents lack coverage. Data on primary care and mental health providers is not published, suggesting this sparse rural county may lack adequate healthcare infrastructure to serve its population.

Take the first step to health

Prairie County's health crisis starts with ensuring coverage—with 14.6% uninsured, many residents lack the foundation for accessing care. Visit Healthcare.gov immediately to find affordable plans, and explore whether you qualify for Medicaid expansion or financial assistance.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Prairie County

via RiskByCounty

Prairie County represents exceptional safety

Prairie County's composite risk score of 4.23 ranks among the nation's safest communities, with Very Low natural disaster exposure overall. The county's hazard profile is roughly 8% of typical U.S. risk levels.

Montana's safest counties tier

Prairie County's score of 4.23 is dramatically below Montana's state average of 33.31—the county experiences roughly 87% less risk than typical state communities. It ranks as one of the most geographically stable counties in Montana.

Safest in its regional group

Prairie County's risk score of 4.23 is lower than all nearby counties, including Phillips (34.51), Musselshell (17.05), and Petroleum (1.30). The county's isolated eastern location and stable terrain create an exceptionally low-hazard environment.

Wildfire is the sole notable concern

Wildfire risk of 60.97 is Prairie County's primary hazard, while flood (5.79), tornado (8.71), and earthquake (5.34) risks all remain minimal. The county's grassland landscape creates seasonal fire potential despite overall very low disaster exposure.

Wildfire preparation and basic coverage

Ensure homeowners insurance includes wildfire coverage and maintain cleared defensible space around structures as your primary protection. Monitor fire season conditions and keep evacuation routes planned, as wildfire is your county's only meaningful natural hazard threat.

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.