Rosebud Outpaces National Livability Standard Clearly
With a composite score of 69.7, Rosebud County ranks substantially above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 40% of American counties. This score reflects genuine livability advantages across multiple dimensions.
2 / 5
Slightly Below Montana's State County Average
Rosebud scores 69.7 compared to Montana's state average of 72.1, positioning it in the middle-to-lower tier of the state's county rankings. While solid, it trails the state's strongest performers by a modest margin.
3 / 5
Taxes and Housing Costs Deliver Real Savings
Rosebud leads with a tax score of 84.5 and effective tax rate of 0.630%, plus a cost score of 87.2 with median home value of just $188,900. For budget-conscious households, these financial efficiencies are substantial.
4 / 5
Income Levels Constrain Economic Opportunity
Median household income reaches only $56,430 with an income score of 20.2, the second-lowest in this group. Health care access also scores at 54.7, indicating room for improvement in medical services and outcomes.
5 / 5
Suited for Frugal Retirees and Remote Professionals
Rosebud works best for retirees on fixed incomes seeking minimal taxes and affordable housing, and for remote workers unaffected by local job markets. Those dependent on local employment or requiring specialized health care may face limitations.
Rosebud Outpaces National Livability Standard Clearly
With a composite score of 69.7, Rosebud County ranks substantially above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 40% of American counties. This score reflects genuine livability advantages across multiple dimensions.
Slightly Below Montana's State County Average
Rosebud scores 69.7 compared to Montana's state average of 72.1, positioning it in the middle-to-lower tier of the state's county rankings. While solid, it trails the state's strongest performers by a modest margin.
Taxes and Housing Costs Deliver Real Savings
Rosebud leads with a tax score of 84.5 and effective tax rate of 0.630%, plus a cost score of 87.2 with median home value of just $188,900. For budget-conscious households, these financial efficiencies are substantial.
Income Levels Constrain Economic Opportunity
Median household income reaches only $56,430 with an income score of 20.2, the second-lowest in this group. Health care access also scores at 54.7, indicating room for improvement in medical services and outcomes.
Suited for Frugal Retirees and Remote Professionals
Rosebud works best for retirees on fixed incomes seeking minimal taxes and affordable housing, and for remote workers unaffected by local job markets. Those dependent on local employment or requiring specialized health care may face limitations.
Score breakdown
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🏛84.5
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Rosebud's effective tax rate of 0.630% sits 25% below the national median of 0.84%, placing it in the bottom quarter of U.S. counties. The median property tax of $1,191 is less than half the national median of $2,690, reflecting both low rates and modest home values of $188,900.
Among Montana's most affordable counties
Rosebud's 0.630% rate sits comfortably below Montana's state average of 0.767%, ranking among the state's most tax-friendly counties. Homeowners here enjoy roughly 18% lower rates than the typical Montanan.
Second-cheapest in the eastern region
Rosebud's 0.630% rate trails only Ravalli (0.529%) among comparable counties, and beats Roosevelt (1.286%) and Sheridan (1.287%) by more than 50%. It's one of the few tax havens in eastern Montana.
What $189K home costs in taxes
A median Rosebud home valued at $188,900 generates roughly $1,191 in annual property taxes. With a mortgage, expect $1,608; without, approximately $911.
Even low bills deserve checking
Low tax rates don't guarantee fair assessments—Rosebud homeowners should still verify their valuations against recent sales. A free appeal could reduce an already modest bill even further.
Rosebud County's 13.7% rent-to-income ratio ranks among Montana's best, significantly outpacing the national average of around 15.9%. Renters here spend just $644 monthly on a median household income of $56,430, freeing resources for other needs.
Southeast Montana's affordability leader
Rosebud's 13.7% rent-to-income ratio is the lowest among the eight-county profile, beating the state average of 15.9% by more than 2 percentage points. At $644 monthly rent—$181 below the state median—Rosebud offers exceptional housing value.
Cheapest rent in the region
Rosebud's $644 rent is the lowest across all neighboring counties, $63 cheaper than Roosevelt, $105 below Sheridan, and $130 less than Richland. Only Rosebud and Roosevelt offer sub-$700 monthly rents in this analysis.
Rosebud's exceptional housing value
Renters allocate just 13.7% of a $56,430 annual income—$644 monthly—to housing, the lowest burden in this county cohort. Homeowners benefit similarly, with $643 monthly payments for median homes valued at $188,900, creating near-parity between rental and ownership costs.
Southeastern Montana's best-kept housing secret
If affordability is your priority, Rosebud County delivers: the region's cheapest rent and best rent-to-income ratio. This southeastern location combines low housing costs with balanced ownership economics, making it ideal for anyone seeking maximum housing security on a modest budget.
Rosebud County's median household income of $56,430 is 24.5% below the national median of $74,755, reflecting the income pressures facing rural Montana. The county operates in an economic tier shared with struggling communities across the Great Plains.
Below-average for Montana
Rosebud's $56,430 trails Montana's state average of $62,295 by 9.4%, placing the county in the lower half of the state's income distribution. The gap reflects limited job diversity and economic opportunity relative to more developed counties.
Rosebud struggles alongside rural peers
Rosebud's $56,430 exceeds only Roosevelt County ($53,125) and Sanders County ($54,035) in this eight-county group. It falls $14,893 short of Richland County and ranks seventh overall—a pattern reflecting broader challenges in eastern and central Montana.
Affordability is a bright spot
Rosebud's rent-to-income ratio of 13.7% is the best among all eight counties, meaning renters dedicate just over one-eighth of income to housing. This affordability cushion offers breathing room, though the modest underlying income constrains total household purchasing power.
Leverage low housing costs
With rent consuming only 13.7% of income, Rosebud households have genuine capacity to save and build wealth despite modest overall earnings. Prioritizing automatic savings from each paycheck and taking advantage of low-cost homeownership can create long-term financial security.
Rosebud County's life expectancy of 65.9 years falls 10.5 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years, representing a significant health gap. With 24% of residents reporting poor or fair health—well above the national average of 17%—the county experiences substantial health challenges.
Second-worst health outcomes in Montana
Rosebud County's 65.9-year life expectancy ranks second-lowest in Montana, trailing only Roosevelt County's 60.4 years and falling 10.4 years below the state average. At 11.1% uninsured, the county sits near the state average, suggesting insurance gaps aren't the primary driver of poor outcomes.
Health crisis shared with Roosevelt
Rosebud's 24% poor/fair health rate mirrors the severe challenges seen in neighboring Roosevelt County (28.2%), indicating a regional health crisis across this area. Both counties dramatically outpace healthier neighbors like Stillwater (12.2%) and Ravalli (13.1%).
Providers present, but outcomes remain poor
Despite having 49 primary care providers and 245 mental health providers per 100K—respectable numbers—Rosebud residents still experience the state's second-lowest life expectancy. This suggests healthcare access alone isn't solving deeper social determinants driving poor health outcomes.
Ensure your coverage is in place
At 11.1% uninsured, Rosebud County has room to improve enrollment rates and strengthen healthcare access. If you lack insurance, visit Healthcare.gov to explore options and take control of your health today.
Rosebud County scores 49.71 on the composite risk scale, moderately above national averages, with a Relatively Low rating. Wildfire exposure dominates, while earthquake risk remains secondary.
Moderate risk within Montana
Rosebud's 49.71 score exceeds Montana's average of 33.31, reflecting greater-than-typical wildfire vulnerability. The county ranks in the moderate tier of Montana's hazard landscape.
Higher wildfire risk than eastern peers
Rosebud (49.71) faces notably higher composite risk than Richland County (52.70) and Roosevelt County (54.45) when considering overall profiles, though its wildfire risk of 95.01 is among the most extreme. This reflects Rosebud's position in Montana's wildland interface.
Wildfire dominates, flood secondary
Wildfire risk at 95.01 is Rosebud's overwhelming hazard, reflecting forested terrain and seasonal fire activity. Flood risk of 56.52 represents a distant second concern, while tornado and earthquake risks remain minimal.
Wildfire insurance is essential
Verify that your homeowners policy includes wildfire coverage or secure a separate endorsement—standard policies often exclude or limit this risk. Maintain defensible space around your home and keep gutters clear to reduce ignition vulnerability.