CountyScore

Toole County

Montana · MT

#36 in Montana
70.5
County Score

County Report Card

About Toole County, Montana

Above Average, but Challenges Ahead

Toole County scores 70.5, more than 40% above the national median of 50.0, indicating solid livability overall. However, the score masks significant income inequality and health disparities worth noting.

Slightly Below Montana's Mean

At 70.5, Toole falls just below the state average of 72.1, placing it in the lower-middle tier among Montana counties. The county faces headwinds compared to its neighbors in income and health outcomes.

Affordability and Risk Management Shine

Toole offers excellent housing affordability (80.4/100) with a median home value of $187,400 and rent at $753/month. Environmental risk management scores well at 87.0, and the tax burden is reasonable at 0.963%.

Income and Health Need Attention

The income score of 18.4 is the lowest in this group, with median household income just $53,693—well below the county average for the state. Health outcomes (64.4) also trail peers, suggesting limited access to quality care or health services.

Best for Cost-First Movers

Toole suits people for whom housing affordability is the primary driver and who can absorb lower local wages or rely on external income sources. Remote workers and those on fixed incomes will find value, but families seeking robust health services should investigate further.

Score breakdown

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

Tax75.2Cost80.4SafetyComing SoonHealth64.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome18.4Risk87WaterComing Soon
🏛75.2
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠80.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼18.4
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤64.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡87
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 Toole County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Franklin County
Alabama
70.5
Median income: $51,493
Lauderdale County
Alabama
70.5
Median income: $59,082
Holmes County
Florida
70.5
Median income: $48,236
Fayette County
Indiana
70.5
Median income: $56,659
Smith County
Kansas
70.5
Median income: $57,024

Deep Dives

Toole County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Toole County

via TaxByCounty

Toole taxes run above national median

At 0.963%, Toole County's effective rate exceeds the national median by 26%, placing it in the top 30% of U.S. counties for tax burden. Yet median taxes of $1,805 remain 33% below the national median of $2,690, thanks to lower home values.

Higher-taxed Montana county

Toole County ranks in the top third of Montana counties by effective rate, at 0.963%—25% above the state average of 0.767%. The median tax bill of $1,805 nearly matches the state median, making Toole a moderately expensive county to own property in.

More expensive than most neighbors

Toole's 0.963% rate ranks third-highest in this eight-county region, behind only Valley County (1.100%) and Yellowstone County (0.840%). It significantly exceeds Sweet Grass (0.491%), Treasure (0.616%), and Wheatland (0.650%).

Median home costs $1,805 yearly

On Toole County's median home value of $187,400, owners pay approximately $1,805 in annual property taxes. Adding county assessments tied to mortgages increases that to $2,040.

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 Toole County

via CostByCounty

Toole's income challenge limits affordability

Toole County residents face the toughest housing affordability conditions in this analysis, with median household income of just $53,693—nearly $21,000 below the national median of $74,755. The 16.8% rent-to-income ratio sits modestly below national norms, but translates into genuine financial strain on lower-earning households.

Below-average income, median-range rents

Toole County's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio sits just above Montana's state average of 15.9%, but the county's significantly lower median income ($53,693 vs state context) creates real affordability pressure. The $753 rent is among Montana's lowest, yet still burdensome for this population.

Cheap rent, limited income

Toole's $753 rent rivals Teton County's affordability advantage, but the county's lower household income means that rent still consumes a larger income percentage. Neighboring Wheatland County faces similar income challenges with comparable housing costs.

Ownership costs outpace rental affordability

At $753 monthly, rent represents 16.8% of the median $53,693 income, but ownership is steeper: the median monthly cost of $958 reflects the $187,400 home value. For lower-income households here, homeownership requires careful financial planning despite affordable nominal prices.

Opportunity for relocating remote workers

If you're relocating with stable income from outside the county, Toole offers some of Montana's cheapest housing—rent under $800 and homes under $190,000. However, local wages are modest, so moving here works best if your income isn't dependent on regional employment.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Toole County

via IncomeByCounty

Toole faces significant income gap

At $53,693, Toole County's median household income trails the national average of $74,755 by over $21,000—a 28% shortfall. This represents one of the larger income challenges in the region.

Toole ranks among Montana's lowest

Toole's $53,693 median falls nearly $8,600 below Montana's county average of $62,295, placing it in the lower tier statewide. The county's per capita income of $29,977 is also well below the state average of $35,700.

Toole significantly trails all neighbors

Toole's $53,693 median trails every neighboring county—Teton ($67,766), Valley ($64,515), Wibaux ($64,792), and Wheatland ($47,054) all earn more. Only Wheatland comes close, but even that county reflects Toole's broader income challenge.

Housing costs stretch tight budgets

Toole's 16.8% rent-to-income ratio is reasonable, but combined with lower median income, leaves less room for savings. The median home value of $187,400 equals 3.5 years of median income—a steep climb without aggressive saving.

Maximize every income dollar here

Lower incomes require disciplined budgeting—start by tracking expenses and automating even small savings amounts. Consider skills training or local economic development initiatives that could boost earning potential over time.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Toole County

via HealthByCounty

Toole faces serious health challenges

At 74.3 years, Toole County's life expectancy is nearly 2 years below the U.S. average of 76.1 years, signaling ongoing health struggles. The county's 19.5% poor/fair health rate significantly exceeds the national rate of 17.1%, suggesting widespread health challenges.

Montana's lowest life expectancy

Toole ranks near the bottom of Montana counties, with life expectancy of 74.3 years compared to the state average of 76.3 years. At 19.5%, the county's poor/fair health rate is among the highest in Montana, where the state average is around 16.5%.

Significantly worse than surrounding counties

Toole's 74.3-year life expectancy trails Sweet Grass County (80.3 years) and Teton County (77.7 years) by wide margins. The county's poor/fair health rate of 19.5% is the highest in the region, well above all neighboring counties.

High uninsured rate compounds challenges

Toole's 12.4% uninsured rate exceeds the state average of 11.9%, meaning more residents lack basic coverage. The county does offer 234 mental health providers per 100K—the highest in the region—but primary care access at 60 per 100K remains limited for routine needs.

Critical: getting insured in Toole

With higher rates of poor health and uninsured residents, Toole County residents need health coverage now. Call Montana's Medicaid helpline, visit health.mt.gov, or speak with a community health worker to enroll today.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Toole County

via RiskByCounty

Toole County faces low national risk

With a composite risk score of 13.01 and a Very Low rating, Toole County's natural disaster exposure ranks substantially below the U.S. average. Your county benefits from geographic and climatic factors that minimize exposure to major hazard types.

Below-average risk across Montana

Toole's composite score of 13.01 falls well short of Montana's 33.31 state average, positioning the county among the state's safer regions. This favorable standing reflects relatively modest exposure across flood, wildfire, and earthquake hazards compared to statewide peers.

Comparable to surrounding counties

Toole's 13.01 score sits between Wheatland County (3.50) and Teton County (19.02), making it a moderate-risk neighbor in the region. Your wildfire risk of 47.90 is lower than most adjacent counties, offering a relative advantage in fire season preparedness.

Wildfire leads minor hazards

Wildfire risk at 47.90 is your county's most significant exposure, though earthquake (29.87) and flood (17.78) risks remain well-controlled. Tornado risk is minimal at 3.85, meaning spring weather poses little concern compared to western Montana counties.

Ensure wildfire coverage exists

Review your homeowner's policy to confirm wildfire damage coverage is included, as this represents your primary natural disaster exposure. A basic property insurance review and modest defensible-space measures around your home provide strong protection for Toole County conditions.

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.