countyscore
63.8
County Score
Disaster Risk 81Safety 75.1Schools 66.3

County Report Card

About Teton County, Montana

Teton County exceeds national benchmarks

Teton County carries a composite score of 62.9, which is nearly 13 points higher than the national median of 50.0. This score reflects a well-balanced profile that is competitive on a national scale.

Outperforming the Montana average

With a score of 62.9, Teton sits well above the Montana state average of 56.4. It maintains a steady lead over many neighboring agricultural and rural counties.

High marks for safety and resilience

The county boasts a risk score of 81.0 and a safety score of 75.1, highlighting a very secure environment. Housing remains relatively affordable with a median home value of $235,500 and rents averaging just $750.

Water infrastructure and tax rates

The water score of 33.5 suggests that resource management or quality could use further attention. Additionally, the tax score of 51.6 reflects a moderate effective tax rate of 0.819%, which is higher than some nearby counties.

A haven for quiet, affordable living

Teton County is a strong match for retirees or remote workers looking for safety and lower living costs. It provides a peaceful lifestyle for those who do not mind moderate tax burdens.

2040608010054.962.575.162.666.362.98133.545.6Tax54.9Cost62.5Safety75.1Health62.6Schools66.3Income62.9Risk81Water33.5Weather45.663.8/100
This county
National avg
6 above average2 below average

Teton County DNA

D+overall

How Teton County compares to the national average across nine baseline dimensions

Teton County scores above average across most dimensions. It's a well-balanced county with particular strength in Disaster Risk (81/100).

Dimension Breakdown

Tax
54.9
Cost
62.5+14.5
Safety
75.1+20.099999999999994
Health
62.6+12.600000000000001
Schools
66.3+12.299999999999997
Income
62.9+11.899999999999999
Risk
81+34
Water
33.5-24.5
Weather
45.6-10.399999999999999
Sponsored

Think property taxes are too high in Teton County?

Many homeowners in Teton County pay more than they should. A professional appeal could save you hundreds per year.

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Can You Afford to Live Here?

Median Home Price

$264,000

National median: $185,300

Median Rent

$730/mo

National median: $877/mo

Income Needed (home)

$264,000/yr

28% front-end rule

Income Needed (rent)

$29,200/yr

30% rent rule

Affordability Spectrum3.7x income
AffordableNational avgExpensive
Local median income: $70,430/yr
Compare Mortgage Rates

Economic & Education Snapshot

Primary Care

31.8

per 100K

Data from Federal Reserve (FRED), U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, and CMS NPPES.

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncome & Jobsincomebycounty.comSafetycrimebycounty.comHealthhealthbycounty.comSchoolsschoolsbycounty.comDisaster Riskriskbycounty.comWater Qualitywaterbycounty.comWeather & Climateweatherbycounty.comSoil Qualitysoilbycounty.comLawn Carelawnbycounty.comFarmers Marketsmarketsbycounty.comView on Mapcountyscore.com/map
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Nearby counties

Pondera County
Montana
52.9
Lewis and Clark County
Montana
38.3
Toole County
Montana
48.4
Cascade County
Montana
33.4
Powell County
Montana
58.6
Liberty County
Montana
57.8
Glacier County
Montana
52
Lake County
Montana
41.1

Deep Dives

Teton County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 9 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.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

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.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Safety in Teton County

via CrimeByCounty

Teton County Outperforms National Safety

With a safety score of 99.1, Teton County is one of the safer regions in the United States. Its total crime rate of 593.1 per 100,000 residents is a fraction of the 2,385.5 national average.

Surpassing Montana Safety Standards

Teton County exceeds the Montana average safety score of 98.2. Its total crime rate is nearly half the state average of 1,112.5 per 100,000 people.

Leading Its Neighbors in Safety

Teton County maintains a lower crime rate than neighboring Toole and Sweet Grass counties. This consistency makes it a regional leader in public safety metrics.

Property and Violent Crime Breakdown

Violent crime is notably low at 176.3 per 100,000 residents. Property crime accounts for 416.8 incidents per 100,000, which is well below the national property crime average of 2,015.7.

Maintaining Peace in Teton

Minimal crime rates provide peace of mind for local families. Simple home security habits help preserve this exceptionally safe community atmosphere.

Full safety analysis on CrimeByCounty

Weather & Climate in Teton County

via WeatherByCounty

A dry, high-latitude climate

Teton County records an average annual temperature of 43.2°F, placing it well below the national median for warmth. With only 12.1 inches of annual precipitation, the region is significantly drier than the average American county.

Slightly cooler than the state

At 43.2°F, Teton County sits just below the Montana state average of 43.7°F. Its 47.5 inches of annual snowfall is typical for the Rocky Mountain Front, providing steady moisture despite low overall rainfall.

Mild summers compared to the plains

Teton avoids the intense heat seen further east, recording only 9 days above 90°F per year. This is significantly fewer heat events than neighbor Toole County, which sees nearly 60% more extreme heat days.

Consistently cool across seasons

Summer averages stay cool at 62.0°F, while winters are cold with a December through February average of 25.4°F. January is the coldest stretch, with temperatures averaging 24.8°F.

Focus on moisture and insulation

The dry air and 12.1 inches of precipitation mean xeriscaping is a smart choice for local landscaping. Given the 47.5 inches of snow and cold winters, ensuring home insulation is up to modern standards will keep heating costs manageable.

Full weather & climate analysis on WeatherByCounty

Soil Quality in Teton County

via SoilByCounty

Rugged Soils Along the Front

Teton County soil records currently lack a specific pH or taxonomic profile for this data set. We anticipate these alkaline soils lean toward the state average of 7.43, significantly higher than the national 6.5 median.

The Mystery of Texture and Workability

Without specific silt and clay data, gardeners must rely on physical touch to determine soil workability. A local soil test is the best way to see if your plot mirrors the rocky characteristics of the nearby Rocky Mountain Front.

Fertility Potential in the Big Sky

Specific organic matter levels are not provided, but nearby counties often fall short of the 2.54% Montana state average. Amending your soil with compost can bridge the gap to ensure higher nutrient retention for your crops.

Navigating Hydrology Without the Map

Hydrologic group data for Teton is currently limited in this record. Observant farmers track how the ground responds to heavy spring rains to determine if they need raised beds or additional irrigation.

Short Season Success in Zone 4b

Hardiness Zone 4b demands quick-maturing varieties like bush beans and kale. Despite the limited soil data, the crisp air and sunny days provide an excellent environment for cool-weather gardening.

Full soil quality analysis on SoilByCounty

Lawn Care in Teton County

via LawnByCounty

Tough Turf Conditions in Teton

Teton County faces significant hurdles with a lawn difficulty score of 28.8, falling well below both the state and national averages. The 4b hardiness zone necessitates selecting extremely cold-hardy grass varieties. Keeping a lawn green here requires more intensive management than almost anywhere else in the country.

Arid Climate Limits Natural Growth

Annual precipitation is just 12.1 inches, providing less than half of the moisture lawns need to thrive naturally. Low growing degree days of 1508 and only 9 extreme heat days mean the grass grows slowly but isn't often stressed by high temperatures. Mowing should be kept high to shade the soil and preserve what little moisture is available.

Navigating Unknown Soil Baselines

Comprehensive soil data for pH and texture is limited for Teton County, making independent soil testing a vital first step. Because much of the region is arid, you likely face alkaline conditions that may require sulfur amendments. Focus on building topsoil with compost to help your lawn survive the low annual rainfall.

A Year of Severe Drought

The county has spent all 53 of the last weeks in drought, and 79.2% of the land currently sits in severe drought or worse. Conventional lawns are difficult to maintain under these conditions without significant irrigation. Consider drought-tolerant seed blends and strictly follow any local water restrictions to conserve the limited supply.

Timing Your Teton Planting

Choose cool-season grasses like Buffalo grass or Crested Wheatgrass that can handle the 4b winters and low water. Your best planting window opens after May 28, but be mindful of the short season ending with the first frost on September 12. Success depends on establishing a strong root base during the few weeks of moderate temperatures.

Full lawn care analysis on LawnByCounty

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Teton County's county score?
Teton County, Montana has a composite county score of 63.8 out of 100 on CountyScore. This score is calculated from a weighted average of available data dimensions including property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools.
How does Teton County rank among counties in Montana?
Teton County ranks #20 among all counties in Montana on CountyScore's composite ranking. Rankings are based on available data dimensions and updated as new data is added.
What are property taxes like in Teton County, Montana?
The median annual property tax in Teton County is $1,987, with an effective tax rate of 0.75%. This earns Teton County a tax score of 54.9/100 on CountyScore (higher = lower taxes).
What is the median household income in Teton County?
The median household income in Teton County, Montana is $70,430 per year according to U.S. Census Bureau data. Teton County earns an income score of 62.9/100 on CountyScore.
Is Teton County, Montana a good place to live?
Teton County scores 63.8/100 on CountyScore's overall county ranking, ranking #20 in Montana. The best way to evaluate Teton County is to compare individual dimension scores — property tax, cost of living, income, safety, health, and schools — based on your personal priorities. Use CountyScore to compare Teton County with other counties side by side.
By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

ByCounty Network

Property TaxCost of LivingIncome & JobsSafetyHealthSchoolsDisaster RiskWater QualityWeather & ClimateSoil QualityLawn CareFarmers Markets

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