CountyScore

Sweet Grass County

Montana · MT

#10 in Montana
76.8
County Score

County Report Card

About Sweet Grass County, Montana

Well Above the National Median

Sweet Grass County scores 76.8 out of 100, nearly 54% higher than the national median composite score of 50.0. This places the county in the upper tier of livability nationwide, reflecting strong fundamentals across tax burden, affordability, health outcomes, and environmental risk management.

Among Montana's Top-Tier Counties

With a composite score of 76.8, Sweet Grass ranks above the state average of 72.1 and sits among Montana's most livable counties. The county's overall profile outperforms most of its peers in the state across multiple dimensions.

Tax Relief and Environmental Safety

Sweet Grass excels in tax burden (88.4/100) with an effective rate of just 0.491%, among the lowest in the state. The county also scores exceptionally high on environmental risk (91.9/100) and health outcomes (77.0), creating a solid foundation for long-term stability.

Income Growth Lags Behind

The county's income score of 28.7 is a notable weak point, with median household income at $69,426—below what many residents might expect for a county otherwise scoring so high. This suggests limited high-wage employment opportunities relative to the county's quality of life.

Ideal for Retirees and Tax-Conscious Families

Sweet Grass suits people prioritizing low taxes, affordable housing ($295,500 median home value), and health-conscious living over career advancement. It's a natural fit for retirees, remote workers, or families content with mid-range incomes but seeking stability and fiscal responsibility.

Score breakdown

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

Tax88.4Cost76.1SafetyComing SoonHealth77SchoolsComing SoonIncome28.7Risk91.9WaterComing Soon
🏛88.4
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠76.1
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼28.7
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤77
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡91.9
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 Sweet Grass County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Lamar County
Alabama
76.8
Median income: $47,447
Franklin County
Idaho
76.8
Median income: $65,991
Osage County
Missouri
76.8
Median income: $75,355
Wells County
North Dakota
76.8
Median income: $61,346
Murray County
Minnesota
76.7
Median income: $74,475

Deep Dives

Sweet Grass County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Sweet Grass County

via TaxByCounty

Sweet Grass taxes rank low nationally

At 0.491%, Sweet Grass County's effective tax rate sits well below the national median of 0.767%, placing it in the bottom 20% of U.S. counties. Homeowners here pay just $1,452 annually on a median home valued at $295,500—substantially less than the national median tax of $2,690.

Among Montana's most affordable

Sweet Grass ranks among Montana's lowest-taxed counties, with an effective rate 36% below the state average of 0.767%. The median tax bill of $1,452 is also $350 below the state average, offering relief for rural homeowners.

Competitive with regional peers

Sweet Grass's 0.491% rate beats most neighboring counties, though it's slightly lower than Treasure County's 0.616% and Wheatland County's 0.650%. Among the eight-county region profiled, only Wibaux County offers lower absolute tax bills due to lower home values.

A median home costs $1,452 yearly

Sweet Grass homeowners with a median-valued property of $295,500 pay approximately $1,452 in annual property taxes. Add county assessments and special districts with mortgage, and that bill rises to $1,918.

You may be overassessed

Many Montana property owners discover their homes are overvalued on county rolls. If your recent appraisal or comparable sales suggest your home's worth has shifted, filing a property tax appeal could lower your effective rate and save hundreds annually.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Sweet Grass County

via CostByCounty

Sweet Grass rents strain household budgets

Renters in Sweet Grass County spend 18.6% of their median household income on rent—higher than the U.S. average of roughly 15%. While the county's median household income of $69,426 sits below the national median of $74,755, the $1,073 monthly rent pulls a larger share of earnings than typical American households experience.

Above Montana's housing affordability line

Sweet Grass County's 18.6% rent-to-income ratio exceeds Montana's state average of 15.9%, placing it among the less affordable counties in the state. The median rent of $1,073 is notably higher than Montana's state average of $825, suggesting tighter rental market conditions here.

Pricier than surrounding rural counties

Sweet Grass renters pay significantly more than those in neighboring Toole County ($753) or Teton County ($750), but face better homeownership costs than Yellowstone County ($1,257 monthly). The county sits in the middle ground of rural Montana's housing landscape.

Rent takes the bigger bite here

At $1,073 monthly, rent consumes 18.6% of the median $69,426 household income, while homeownership averages $839 per month on a median value of $295,500. Overall, Sweet Grass households allocate roughly one in five income dollars to housing costs.

Consider housing costs before relocating

If you're weighing a move to Sweet Grass County, budget for rents above the Montana average and factor in that housing will claim a sizable portion of income. Homebuyers may find more favorable conditions here than in Yellowstone, making ownership a competitive option for those with down payment savings.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Sweet Grass County

via IncomeByCounty

Sweet Grass sits just below national average

At $69,426, Sweet Grass County's median household income falls about $5,300 short of the U.S. median of $74,755. This positions the county in the middle range nationally, competitive with many rural American communities.

Well above Montana's county average

Sweet Grass ranks among the stronger income performers statewide, with its $69,426 median exceeding Montana's county average of $62,295 by 11%. This reflects stronger-than-typical economic fundamentals for the state.

Sweet Grass outearns regional peers

Sweet Grass households earn more than Teton ($67,766), Valley ($64,515), and Wibaux ($64,792) counties. The county's per capita income of $39,756 also leads most immediate neighbors, suggesting concentrated earning power.

Rent remains affordable; homes less so

At 18.6%, the rent-to-income ratio signals healthy housing affordability—well below the 30% threshold for financial stress. However, the median home price of $295,500 represents a 4.3-year income multiple, requiring substantial savings.

Build wealth in Sweet Grass County

With above-average income and manageable rent costs, Sweet Grass households have room to save. Consider automating 10–15% of household income into retirement accounts and low-cost index funds to compound wealth over time.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Sweet Grass County

via HealthByCounty

Sweet Grass lives longer than most

At 80.3 years, Sweet Grass County residents live nearly 5 years longer than the U.S. average of 76.1 years—a significant health advantage. Only 13.4% of the county reports poor or fair health, well below the national rate of 17.1%, suggesting consistently strong health outcomes across the population.

Montana's healthiest county

Sweet Grass leads Montana in life expectancy, outpacing the state average of 76.3 years by 4 years. The county's low poor/fair health rate of 13.4% ranks it among the healthiest in Montana, where the state average hovers around 16.5%.

Notably healthier than nearby counties

Sweet Grass's 80.3-year life expectancy far exceeds Teton County (77.7 years) and Valley County (76.4 years), both regional neighbors. The county also boasts stronger primary care access at 81 per 100K compared to Teton's 32 per 100K.

Good access, affordable coverage

Sweet Grass's 10.0% uninsured rate is below the state average of 11.9%, meaning most residents have health insurance. The county offers 81 primary care providers per 100K residents and 159 mental health providers per 100K, supporting preventive care and treatment.

Keep coverage strong in Sweet Grass

While Sweet Grass leads on health outcomes, staying insured is essential to maintaining these gains. Uninsured residents in the county can explore Montana Medicaid, marketplace plans, and community health resources to ensure continuous coverage.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Sweet Grass County

via RiskByCounty

Sweet Grass sits well below national risk

With a composite risk score of 8.14 and a Very Low rating, Sweet Grass County faces significantly less natural disaster risk than the average U.S. county. Your exposure to major hazards is substantially below the national median, making this one of Montana's safer counties for natural disaster preparedness.

Among Montana's least risky counties

Sweet Grass ranks favorably within Montana, where the state average composite risk score is 33.31—more than four times higher than your county's 8.14. This places Sweet Grass in the lower tier of risk across the state's 56 counties.

Safer than nearby counties

Compared to neighboring Wheatland County (3.50) and Teton County (19.02), Sweet Grass holds a middle ground with its 8.14 score. Your risk profile is comparable to other central Montana counties, though wildfire exposure varies more significantly across the region.

Wildfire is your main concern

Wildfire risk dominates in Sweet Grass at 88.10, far outpacing other hazards like earthquake risk (34.86) and flood risk (19.69). While your overall composite risk remains low, preparation for wildfire season should be your primary focus for home and property protection.

Prioritize wildfire insurance coverage

Even with low overall risk, your wildfire exposure of 88.10 justifies reviewing your homeowner's policy to ensure adequate coverage for fire damage. Consider creating defensible space around your home and having an evacuation plan ready during Montana's fire season.

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.