Silver Bow Exceeds National Livability Standards Solidly
Silver Bow County's composite score of 69.1 ranks above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 38% of U.S. counties. This demonstrates livability strengths that compare favorably to most American communities.
2 / 5
Slightly Below Montana's County Performance Average
Silver Bow scores 69.1 compared to Montana's state average of 72.1, placing it in the middle of the state's county rankings. While solid, it trails Montana's strongest performers by a noticeable margin.
3 / 5
Cost and Health Care Offer Balanced Advantages
Silver Bow delivers a cost score of 79.5 with median home value of $223,500 and a health score of 70.3, supporting both affordability and quality care access. These dimensions provide solid foundation for household stability.
4 / 5
Income Levels and Tax Rate Create Squeeze
Median household income of $57,504 with an income score of 20.9 combined with an effective tax rate of 1.055% creates budget pressure for wage earners. Limited income growth potential constrains household financial planning.
5 / 5
Suited for Health-Conscious, Modest-Income Households
Silver Bow works well for individuals and families prioritizing health care access and moderate housing affordability over maximum income growth. Those with stable outside income or modest consumption needs will find the balanced cost-health profile appealing.
Silver Bow Exceeds National Livability Standards Solidly
Silver Bow County's composite score of 69.1 ranks above the national median of 50.0, placing it in the top 38% of U.S. counties. This demonstrates livability strengths that compare favorably to most American communities.
Slightly Below Montana's County Performance Average
Silver Bow scores 69.1 compared to Montana's state average of 72.1, placing it in the middle of the state's county rankings. While solid, it trails Montana's strongest performers by a noticeable margin.
Cost and Health Care Offer Balanced Advantages
Silver Bow delivers a cost score of 79.5 with median home value of $223,500 and a health score of 70.3, supporting both affordability and quality care access. These dimensions provide solid foundation for household stability.
Income Levels and Tax Rate Create Squeeze
Median household income of $57,504 with an income score of 20.9 combined with an effective tax rate of 1.055% creates budget pressure for wage earners. Limited income growth potential constrains household financial planning.
Suited for Health-Conscious, Modest-Income Households
Silver Bow works well for individuals and families prioritizing health care access and moderate housing affordability over maximum income growth. Those with stable outside income or modest consumption needs will find the balanced cost-health profile appealing.
Score breakdown
5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.
🏛72.6
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
Silver Bow's effective tax rate of 1.055% sits 26% above the national median of 0.84%, placing it in the nation's upper quartile of taxed counties. The median property tax of $2,357 nearly matches the national median of $2,690, despite homes being worth less at $223,500.
Third-highest tax burden in Montana
Silver Bow's 1.055% rate ranks third in Montana behind Roosevelt (1.286%) and Sheridan (1.287%), at 37% above the state average of 0.767%. This makes Silver Bow a notably heavy-tax jurisdiction within the state.
Heaviest tax in Southwest Montana
Silver Bow's 1.055% rate substantially exceeds Ravalli (0.529%), Rosebud (0.630%), and Stillwater (0.599%), making it the most expensive option for homeowners in its region. It's closer in burden to the northeastern extremes than to western peers.
What $224K home costs in taxes
A median Silver Bow home valued at $223,500 generates approximately $2,357 annually in property taxes. With a mortgage, expect $2,449; without, roughly $2,227.
High taxes demand careful verification
In a high-tax county like Silver Bow, overassessments hit harder—a 15% overvalue could cost $350+ per year indefinitely. A property tax appeal is free and often the best financial move a homeowner can make.
Silver Bow County's 16.9% rent-to-income ratio significantly exceeds the national average, straining renters despite moderate housing costs. With median rent of $810 on a median household income of $57,504, Silver Bow residents spend above-average shares of earnings on housing.
Among Montana's more burdened renters
Silver Bow's 16.9% rent-to-income ratio tops Montana's state average of 15.9%, marking it as one of the state's less affordable rental markets. Median rent of $810 moderately exceeds the state average, but low incomes amplify the burden.
Higher rent-to-income burden than peers
Silver Bow's 16.9% ratio ranks among the region's worst, exceeded only by Ravalli (17.7%) and Sanders (17.2%). At $810 monthly rent, Silver Bow sits mid-range across the county profile but its lower income of $57,504 creates disproportionate hardship.
Silver Bow's strained housing economics
Renters spend 16.9% of a $57,504 annual income—$810 monthly—on housing, among the highest burdens analyzed. Homeowners face even steeper pressure, with $944 monthly owner costs consuming 19.7% of household income for median homes valued at $223,500.
Requires careful financial planning before moving
Silver Bow's housing costs consume significantly larger income shares than neighboring alternatives like Rosebud or Sheridan. Before relocating here, ensure your earning potential exceeds county averages or prioritize counties with better rent-to-income ratios.
Silver Bow County's median household income of $57,504 is 23.1% below the U.S. median of $74,755, reflecting economic challenges in this historical mining region. The county ranks among lower-earning counties despite its larger population base.
Below Montana's state average
Silver Bow's $57,504 trails Montana's state average of $62,295 by 7.7%, placing the county in the lower-middle tier of the state. The income gap reflects the shift away from mining as a primary employer.
Silver Bow ranks toward the bottom
Silver Bow's $57,504 is seventh among these eight counties, exceeding only Roosevelt County ($53,125) and trailing Rosebud ($56,430) by just $947. The tight clustering of these lower-income counties shows the prevalence of economic strain across rural Montana.
Rent-to-income strains the budget
Silver Bow's rent-to-income ratio of 16.9% is higher than most peers, meaning renters allocate nearly one-sixth of income to housing. With a median home value of $223,500, homeownership requires careful financial planning given the modest underlying income.
Strategic planning beats passive waiting
Silver Bow residents benefit from deliberate wealth-building strategies: automating savings, minimizing high-interest debt, and seeking employer retirement matches whenever available. Even small, consistent investments compound into meaningful financial security over years and decades.
Silver Bow County's life expectancy of 74.1 years falls 2.3 years short of the U.S. average of 76.4 years, while its 15.5% poor/fair health rate outperforms the national average of 17%. The county shows mixed performance relative to the nation as a whole.
Below-average lifespan, strong insurance
Silver Bow County's 74.1-year life expectancy trails Montana's 76.3-year average by 2.2 years, yet its 9.7% uninsured rate significantly beats the state average of 11.9%. This suggests healthcare coverage isn't the primary barrier to health in Silver Bow.
Standout mental health provider network
Silver Bow's 594 mental health providers per 100K is exceptional—nearly double the availability in surrounding counties and far exceeding the state's typical rural levels. However, its 79 primary care providers per 100K provides solid primary care access without being exceptional.
Strong coverage, specialized support strength
With only 9.7% uninsured and an exceptional network of 594 mental health providers per 100K, Silver Bow residents have excellent access to behavioral health services. Yet the county's below-average life expectancy suggests other factors—such as lifestyle, environmental, or social determinants—may be limiting overall health outcomes.
Maintain insurance for better outcomes
Silver Bow's strong insurance enrollment of 90.3% shows the power of coverage—especially as you access the county's robust mental health services. If you're among the 9.7% uninsured, visit Healthcare.gov to secure a plan today.
Silver Bow County scores 38.04 on composite risk, slightly above national norms, with a Very Low rating. Earthquake risk of 87.40 is notably high, while wildfire risk of 80.73 presents a secondary concern.
Low-to-moderate risk within Montana
Silver Bow's 38.04 score slightly exceeds Montana's average of 33.31, placing it just above the state median. Earthquake exposure is the primary driver of this above-average ranking.
Highest earthquake risk in region
Silver Bow (38.04) faces substantially higher earthquake exposure (87.40) than neighboring Sanders County (67.91) and similar wildfire risk to regional peers. Its earthquake vulnerability is the most severe in the southwestern corridor.
Earthquake threatens structures most
Earthquake risk at 87.40 is Silver Bow's defining hazard, substantially exceeding all other exposures. Wildfire risk of 80.73 is also notable, while tornado and flood risks remain low.
Earthquake insurance is critical
Earthquake coverage is excluded from standard homeowners policies and must be purchased separately—this is essential in Silver Bow given its 87.40 exposure rating. Verify your home's seismic bracing and consider retrofitting for older structures.