Teton County

Montana · MT

#20 in Montana
74
County Score

County Report Card

About Teton County, Montana

Strong Livability Across the Board

Teton County scores 74.0, well above the national median of 50.0 and demonstrating solid livability. The county ranks in the upper third nationally, driven by affordable housing and low environmental risk.

Slightly Above Montana's Average

Teton's composite score of 74.0 exceeds the state average of 72.1, placing it in the middle-to-upper range of Montana counties. The county holds its own against regional peers with balanced strengths across multiple dimensions.

Housing Affordability Stands Out

Teton shines in cost (81.9/100) with the lowest median gross rent in this group at $750/month and a median home value of $235,500. The tax burden is also manageable (79.2/100) at 0.819%, making it accessible to budget-conscious households.

Income Opportunity Remains Limited

Income scores reach just 27.6, with median household income at $67,766, suggesting fewer high-earning positions in the local economy. Health outcomes (71.3) and environmental risk (81.0) are solid but lag slightly behind some peer counties.

Perfect for Affordable Rural Living

Teton County is built for renters and first-time homebuyers seeking affordable rural living without sacrificing livability fundamentals. It appeals to young families, remote workers, or those willing to accept lower local wages for cheaper housing and tax relief.

Score breakdown

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

Tax79.2Cost81.9SafetyComing SoonHealth71.3SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.6Risk81WaterComing Soon
🏛79.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty
🏠81.9
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty
💼27.6
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
71.3
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
81
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Deep Dives

Teton County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Teton County

via TaxByCounty

Teton taxes slightly above national norm

Teton County's effective rate of 0.819% ranks near the national median, placing it in the middle 40% of U.S. counties. At $1,929 in median taxes on a $235,500 home, Teton residents pay 28% less than the national median tax bill of $2,690.

Slightly above Montana average

Teton's 0.819% rate edges above Montana's state average of 0.767%, ranking it in the middle tier of the state's 56 counties. The median tax of $1,929 sits $127 above the state median, reflecting above-average assessment practices.

Higher rates than most neighbors

Teton's 0.819% rate is higher than five of the eight profiled counties, including Sweet Grass (0.491%) and Treasure County (0.616%). Only Valley County (1.100%), Toole County (0.963%), and Yellowstone County (0.840%) tax at notably higher rates in this region.

Median home costs $1,929 yearly

A property valued at Teton County's median of $235,500 incurs roughly $1,929 in annual property taxes. With mortgage-related assessments, your total tax obligation climbs to $2,000.

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.

Cost of Living in Teton County

via CostByCounty

Teton offers some relief from national trends

Teton County's rent-to-income ratio of 13.3% is comfortably below the U.S. average and well under the national norm of around 15%, making housing costs here relatively manageable. Though median household income of $67,766 trails the national figure of $74,755, the $750 median monthly rent keeps overall affordability competitive.

Montana's most affordable rental market

Teton County boasts one of Montana's lowest rent-to-income ratios at 13.3%, significantly outpacing the state average of 15.9%. Its $750 median rent is the lowest in this survey and well below Montana's state median of $825.

The bargain basement of regional rents

Teton County's $750 rent undercuts every nearby county in this analysis, from Valley County ($769) to Treasure County ($992). Homeownership costs here are comparable to neighbors, but the rental advantage is Teton's defining housing strength.

Balanced affordability across housing types

Renters spend just $750 monthly (13.3% of income), while homeowners pay $859 on a median home value of $235,500. Teton households enjoy relatively low housing burdens overall, with neither rent nor mortgage claiming an outsized share of earnings.

Budget-conscious renters should look here

Teton County delivers Montana's best rental affordability with rents that won't dominate your monthly budget—a rare find in the state. If you're relocating and price-sensitive, this county outperforms nearly all regional peers on housing costs.

Income & Jobs in Teton County

via IncomeByCounty

Teton falls below U.S. income average

Teton County's median household income of $67,766 lags the national median by $6,989. While still solidly middle-class, this gap reflects economic patterns common in smaller Montana counties.

Teton ranks above state average

At $67,766, Teton's median household income surpasses Montana's county average of $62,295 by nearly 9%. The county holds its own in Montana's income landscape despite rural demographics.

Teton's income lags its county peers

Sweet Grass ($69,426) and Treasure ($73,036) outpace Teton's $67,766 median. Teton's per capita income of $31,794 is notably lower than Sweet Grass's $39,756, suggesting more dispersed earning power.

Strong housing affordability here

Teton's 13.3% rent-to-income ratio is among Montana's lowest, indicating excellent rental affordability. The median home value of $235,500 still requires careful savings, but the low rent burden frees up income for homeownership goals.

Leverage low housing costs to invest

Teton's tight rent-to-income ratio is a wealth-building advantage—most households save 2–3% more annually than national averages. Direct those savings into diversified investments and emergency funds to accelerate long-term wealth.

Health in Teton County

via HealthByCounty

Teton's life expectancy matches nation

Teton County residents live 77.7 years on average, roughly in line with the U.S. life expectancy of 76.1 years. However, 15.9% of the county reports poor or fair health, slightly below the national rate of 17.1%, indicating generally adequate health outcomes.

Teton ranks midfield in Montana

At 77.7 years, Teton's life expectancy is above Montana's state average of 76.3 years by about 1.4 years. The county's 15.9% poor/fair health rate aligns with the state average, placing it in the middle range of Montana counties.

Primary care access lags neighbors

Teton's 32 primary care providers per 100K is the lowest among nearby counties—Sweet Grass offers 81 per 100K and Valley County provides 93 per 100K. Mental health support is robust at 171 per 100K, exceeding most regional peers.

Insurance gap and provider shortage

Teton's 11.5% uninsured rate is slightly below the state average of 11.9%, but the county faces a significant primary care deficit. Limited primary care options mean many residents may travel for routine checkups or preventive visits.

Bridge the coverage gap in Teton

Nearly 1 in 9 Teton residents lack health insurance, making enrollment in Montana Medicaid or marketplace plans critical. Residents can contact the Teton County health department or visit healthcare.gov to explore affordable coverage options.

Disaster Risk in Teton County

via RiskByCounty

Teton's risk remains below national average

Teton County's composite risk score of 19.02 with a Very Low rating places it well below the typical U.S. county's exposure to natural disasters. Your risk profile is driven primarily by wildfire and earthquake hazards rather than the high-impact floods or hurricanes seen in other regions.

Mid-tier risk within Montana

At 19.02, Teton's composite risk score is below Montana's state average of 33.31, ranking it among the safer counties statewide. However, your earthquake risk (53.69) stands notably higher than many neighboring counties, reflecting the region's geological character.

Higher earthquake risk than peers

Teton County's earthquake risk of 53.69 significantly exceeds nearby Sweet Grass (34.86) and Toole (29.87), reflecting its proximity to seismic zones. Overall, your total composite risk of 19.02 remains moderate compared to your neighbors along the Rocky Mountain Front.

Wildfire and earthquakes dominate

Wildfire risk at 73.51 and earthquake risk at 53.69 are your primary hazard exposures, while flood (32.19) and tornado (5.03) risks remain minimal. The combination of fire season threats and occasional seismic activity requires dual-focused preparedness planning.

Bundle fire and earthquake coverage

Your homeowner's policy should explicitly cover both wildfire damage and earthquake damage, as standard policies often exclude these perils. Securing these coverages protects your investment against Teton's two most significant natural hazards.

ByCounty Network

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.