CountyScore

Valley County

Montana · MT

#38 in Montana
69.9
County Score

County Report Card

About Valley County, Montana

Solid Livability, Clear Cautions

Valley County scores 69.9, about 40% above the national median of 50.0, but lower than most other Montana counties in this group. The score reflects affordability strengths offset by notable income and risk management concerns.

Below Montana's Average Performance

At 69.9, Valley ranks below the state average of 72.1 and sits at the lower end of this Montana cohort. The county faces structural economic and environmental challenges that warrant careful consideration.

Housing Affordability Tops the List

Valley shines in cost (82.4/100) with the second-lowest median home value at $198,600 and affordable rent at $769/month. The tax burden is reasonable at 1.100%, though slightly higher than some peers.

Environmental Risk and Income Concern

The risk score of 64.1 is the lowest in this group, suggesting elevated environmental or natural hazard exposure. Income (25.5) and health (68.4) scores are also underwhelming, with median household income just $64,515.

For Risk-Tolerant Budget Seekers

Valley County works best for people prioritizing cost minimization above other factors and comfortable with environmental or climate risks. It suits remote workers or those with stable external income who can overlook limited local wage opportunities.

Score breakdown

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

Tax71.3Cost82.4SafetyComing SoonHealth68.4SchoolsComing SoonIncome25.5Risk64.1WaterComing Soon
🏛71.3
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠82.4
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼25.5
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤68.4
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡64.1
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 Valley County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Cullman County
Alabama
69.9
Median income: $60,916
Union County
Arkansas
69.9
Median income: $50,221
Fannin County
Georgia
69.9
Median income: $58,073
Cheyenne County
Kansas
69.9
Median income: $55,765
Jackson County
Kansas
69.9
Median income: $72,703

Deep Dives

Valley County across the ByCounty Network

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

Property Tax in Valley County

via TaxByCounty

Valley County taxes rank highest locally

At 1.100%, Valley County's effective rate ranks in the top 15% of U.S. counties, substantially above the national median of 0.767%. Residents pay $2,185 annually on a $198,600 median home—matching the national median tax of $2,690 despite a much lower home value.

Montana's most expensive county here

Valley County's 1.100% effective rate ranks among Montana's highest, 43% above the state average of 0.767%. With a median tax of $2,185, Valley has the highest tax burden of the eight profiled counties.

Far steeper than all regional peers

Valley County's 1.100% rate significantly exceeds every other profiled county in the region. The next-closest is Toole County at 0.963%; Sweet Grass lags far behind at 0.491%, making Valley's burden roughly double that of the most affordable neighbor.

Median home costs $2,185 yearly

Valley County homeowners with a median home of $198,600 pay approximately $2,185 in annual property taxes—the highest absolute burden in this region. Adding county assessments and mortgage items pushes the total to $2,360.

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 Valley County

via CostByCounty

Valley County beats national affordability odds

Valley County's 14.3% rent-to-income ratio sits well below the U.S. average of roughly 15%, delivering stronger housing affordability than most American counties. Though median household income of $64,515 lags the national median of $74,755, the $769 monthly rent ensures housing costs remain very manageable.

Among Montana's more affordable counties

Valley County's 14.3% rent-to-income ratio beats Montana's state average of 15.9%, ranking it among the state's more affordable rental markets. The $769 rent undercuts the state median of $825, signaling genuine housing accessibility in this rural county.

Competitive pricing across the region

Valley's $769 rent is nearly identical to Toole County ($753) and only slightly above Teton County ($750), while homeownership costs of $803 remain among the region's most reasonable. The county offers solid value compared to pricier neighbors like Treasure ($992) and Yellowstone ($1,084).

Lowest housing burden in this analysis

Renters allocate just $769 monthly (14.3% of the $64,515 income) while homeowners spend $803 on a median value of $198,600. Valley County households dedicate roughly one in seven income dollars to housing—among the lowest proportions regionally.

Maximum affordability for rural relocators

Valley County delivers exceptional housing affordability for renters and homeowners alike, with costs well below state and national averages. If you're relocating to rural Montana on a moderate income, Valley offers some of the region's best value and lowest housing burden.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Valley County

via IncomeByCounty

Valley lags national income benchmark

Valley County's median household income of $64,515 falls $10,240 short of the U.S. median of $74,755. While respectable, the gap reflects Valley's rural character and smaller economic base.

Valley exceeds state county average

At $64,515, Valley's median household income runs 3.6% above Montana's county average of $62,295. The county holds steady in the middle range of Montana's income distribution.

Valley outperforms western peers

Valley's $64,515 median beats Toole ($53,693), Wheatland ($47,054), and Wibaux ($64,792) but trails Sweet Grass ($69,426), Teton ($67,766), and Treasure ($73,036). The county's per capita income of $31,869 is moderate for the region.

Affordable rents support stability

Valley's 14.3% rent-to-income ratio is among Montana's best, freeing household budgets for other needs. The median home value of $198,600 equals about 3.1 years of income—achievable with disciplined saving.

Save more with low housing costs

Valley's low rent burden is a major advantage—households can redirect 2–4% more of income toward savings than national averages. Start a dedicated savings account today and automate contributions to build emergency reserves and investment capital.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Valley County

via HealthByCounty

Valley matches U.S. life expectancy

Valley County residents live 76.4 years on average, essentially matching the U.S. life expectancy of 76.1 years. The county's 15.9% poor/fair health rate falls just below the national average of 17.1%, indicating solid overall health status.

Slightly above Montana average

At 76.4 years, Valley County's life expectancy is marginally above Montana's state average of 76.3 years. The county's 15.9% poor/fair health rate aligns closely with the state average, placing it in the middle range of Montana counties.

Strong primary care among peers

Valley's 93 primary care providers per 100K is the second-highest among nearby counties, exceeded only by Sweet Grass at 81 per 100K. Mental health support at 147 per 100K is solid, ranking above most regional neighbors.

Higher uninsured rate a concern

Valley County's 13.4% uninsured rate is notably above the state average of 11.9%, meaning roughly 1 in 7.5 residents lack coverage. The county's strong primary care access at 93 per 100K helps offset this gap, but uninsured residents still face barriers to preventive care.

Valley residents: enroll today

With above-average uninsured rates, Valley County residents should prioritize checking Montana Medicaid eligibility and marketplace plans. Call 1-800-MED-HELP or visit health.mt.gov to find affordable coverage options.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Valley County

via RiskByCounty

Valley County edges above national average

Valley County's composite risk score of 35.94 with a Very Low rating slightly exceeds the typical U.S. county's natural disaster risk profile. Your exposure is driven primarily by flood risk (34.22) and moderate wildfire concerns, typical of northeastern Montana's climate patterns.

Valley ranks near Montana's midpoint

At 35.94, Valley County's composite risk exceeds Montana's state average of 33.31 by just 2.63 points, placing it slightly above the middle tier of the state's counties. This positions Valley as a moderate-risk county within Montana's broader risk landscape.

Highest risk in the immediate region

Valley's 35.94 score substantially exceeds nearby Wibaux (11.07) and Wheatland (3.50), making it notably riskier than surrounding counties. Your flood risk of 34.22 is the primary driver of this higher exposure compared to drier neighboring areas.

Flood dominates, wildfire secondary

Flood risk at 34.22 is your county's primary hazard, driven by proximity to the Missouri River and seasonal runoff patterns. Wildfire exposure at 49.46 represents your second concern, while tornado (14.63) and earthquake (23.00) risks remain moderate.

Flood insurance is essential

Your flood risk of 34.22 makes dedicated flood insurance critical—standard homeowner's policies exclude flood damage entirely. Coupled with comprehensive wildfire coverage, these two policies provide robust protection against Valley County's primary natural disaster exposures.

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.