Montana property taxes by county
Across Montana, the median owner-occupied home pays $2,693 a year in real-estate taxes on a median home value of $375,800 — an effective property-tax rate of 0.717%. That ranks Montana #32 of 51 states and the District of Columbia (1 = highest). This page carries all 56 Montana county-equivalents in the Census data — 56 with a published effective rate — sortable by rate, taxes paid, home value, income, or five-year change. 4 of them also carry a full detail card here — every median with its Census margin of error, both rankings, the six nearest counties, and the five-year change. It also sets out how property tax actually works in Montana: how property is assessed, which exemptions exist and who qualifies, the deadline and body for an appeal, and the payment schedule and penalties — each hand-sourced from official Montana sources. Figures are U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates.
- Effective tax rate
- 0.717%
- Median real-estate taxes
- $2,693 ± $19
- Median home value
- $375,800
- Median household income
- $72,509
- National rank
- #32 of 51
- County-equivalents
- 56
Median real-estate taxes ÷ median home value — a ratio of two independently-estimated medians, not a statutory (millage) rate.
How property tax varies across Montana
Across Montana's 56 county-equivalents with a published rate, the effective property-tax rate runs from 1.338% in Blaine County down to 0.412% in Madison County — a 3.2× spread inside a single state, which is why a statewide average tells a buyer very little.
The largest median real-estate tax bill in Montana is $4,150 in Missoula County, which ranks #11 of 56 by RATE — while the state's highest rate, 1.338%, is in Blaine County, where the median bill is $2,080. Dollars and rate are different questions and rank counties differently.
Measured against the national median effective rate of 0.937%, 9 of Montana's 56 ranked counties sit above it and 47 below. Montana as a whole ranks #32 of 51 (1 = highest).
Median home value statewide is $375,800, but within Montana it ranges from $667,600 in Gallatin County to $98,600 in Wibaux County — the denominator of the effective rate, and the main reason two counties with similar bills can show very different rates.
Statewide, the median real-estate tax bill equals about 3.7% of median household income. That share is heaviest in Missoula County (5.5%) and lightest in Wibaux County (0.9%).
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015–2019 and 2020–2024, median real-estate taxes rose by a statistically significant amount in 47 of Montana's 56 counties with a comparable trend, fell significantly in 1, and showed no statistically significant change in 8.
Estimate a Montana property tax bill
A median-based estimate, not a quote, an assessment, or a tax bill — it cannot know your assessed value, exemptions, or special districts. How this is computed.
Every Montana county
All 56 Montana county-equivalents in the Census data (56 with a published effective rate). Click a column heading to sort. Counties in bold have a full detail card further down this page — margins of error, nearby counties, and their five-year trend.
| Blaine County | 1.338% | $2,080 | $2,370 | $1,924 | $155,500 | $64,813 | 3.2% | #1 | #545 | +44% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt County | 1.281% | $1,522 | $1,678 | $1,422 | $118,800 | $57,063 | 2.7% | #2 | #625 | +33.7% |
| Sheridan County | 1.227% | $1,521 | $1,551 | $1,503 | $124,000 | $70,147 | 2.2% | #3 | #700 | +32.6% |
| Valley County | 1.176% | $2,333 | $2,478 | $2,186 | $198,400 | $71,695 | 3.3% | #4 | #768 | +74.1% |
| Dawson County | 1.139% | $2,110 | $2,358 | $1,970 | $185,300 | $71,334 | 3.0% | #5 | #835 | +23.4% |
| Big Horn County | 1.098% | $1,574 | $1,435 | $1,709 | $143,400 | $58,750 | 2.7% | #6 | #908 | +51.2% |
| Custer County | 1.033% | $2,264 | $2,386 | $2,087 | $219,100 | $70,605 | 3.2% | #7 | #1039 | +28.2% |
| Silver Bow County | 0.980% | $2,500 | $2,619 | $2,352 | $255,200 | $61,754 | 4.0% | #8 | #1177 | +49.4% |
| Hill County | 0.977% | $1,980 | $2,209 | $1,594 | $202,600 | $52,798 | 3.8% | #9 | #1184 | +16.7% |
| Liberty County | 0.928% | $1,570 | $2,114 | $1,377 | $169,100 | $57,857 | 2.7% | #10 | #1289 | +44% |
| Missoula County | 0.879% | $4,150 | $4,226 | $3,984 | $472,100 | $75,598 | 5.5% | #11 | #1397 | +47% |
| Cascade County | 0.874% | $2,320 | $2,386 | $2,214 | $265,300 | $67,690 | 3.4% | #12 | #1408 | +32.3% |
| Toole County | 0.874% | $1,908 | $2,005 | $1,655 | $218,400 | $57,731 | 3.3% | #13 | #1410 | +43.1% |
| Daniels County | 0.871% | $1,610 | $1,995 | $1,378 | $184,800 | $55,625 | 2.9% | #14 | #1417 | +14.8% |
| Glacier County | 0.843% | $1,391 | $1,757 | $1,177 | $165,100 | $46,875 | 3.0% | #15 | #1478 | +26.3% |
| Prairie County | 0.839% | $1,391 | $1,333 | $1,398 | $165,700 | $51,250 | 2.7% | #16 | #1486 | +17.2% |
| Yellowstone County | 0.810% | $2,832 | $2,867 | $2,769 | $349,500 | $76,570 | 3.7% | #17 | #1555 | +33.8% |
| Pondera County | 0.801% | $1,651 | $1,449 | $1,849 | $206,100 | $52,338 | 3.1% | #18 | #1582 | +22.8% |
| Lewis and Clark County | 0.791% | $3,113 | $3,202 | $2,967 | $393,500 | $78,237 | 4.0% | #19 | #1612 | +33.3% |
| Phillips County | 0.785% | $1,551 | $1,813 | $1,390 | $197,600 | $53,417 | 2.9% | #20 | #1629 | +36.3% |
| Deer Lodge County | 0.778% | $1,803 | $2,080 | $1,455 | $231,700 | $57,527 | 3.1% | #21 | #1649 | +27.1% |
| Chouteau County | 0.754% | $1,566 | $1,648 | $1,532 | $207,800 | $58,218 | 2.7% | #22 | #1717 | +30.3% |
| Teton County | 0.753% | $1,987 | $2,133 | $1,854 | $264,000 | $70,430 | 2.8% | #23 | #1722 | +22.4% |
| Fergus County | 0.749% | $1,769 | $1,896 | $1,537 | $236,100 | $63,706 | 2.8% | #24 | #1730 | +34.2% |
| Richland County | 0.735% | $1,934 | $2,198 | $1,758 | $263,000 | $73,084 | 2.6% | #25 | #1770 | +30.6% |
| Rosebud County | 0.704% | $1,285 | $1,823 | $894 | $182,400 | $49,914 | 2.6% | #26 | #1878 | +62.9% |
| Powell County | 0.686% | $2,104 | $2,157 | $2,007 | $306,500 | $66,923 | 3.1% | #27 | #1937 | +51.3% |
| Powder River County | 0.679% | $1,304 | $1,360 | $1,244 | $192,100 | $67,045 | 1.9% | #28 | #1963 | +38.3% |
| McCone County | 0.675% | $1,429 | $1,846 | $1,341 | $211,600 | $69,375 | 2.1% | #29 | #1977 | +28.2% |
| Beaverhead County | 0.671% | $2,069 | $2,363 | $1,773 | $308,300 | $61,268 | 3.4% | #30 | #1996 | +29.4% |
| Meagher County | 0.664% | $1,725 | $2,092 | $1,662 | $259,800 | $71,932 | 2.4% | #31 | #2025 | +48.1% |
| Garfield County | 0.619% | $1,052 | $1,625 | $754 | $169,900 | $69,583 | 1.5% | #32 | #2181 | −16.4% |
| Lake County | 0.607% | $2,561 | $2,678 | $2,383 | $421,800 | $63,360 | 4.0% | #33 | #2235 | +36.2% |
| Wibaux County | 0.606% | $598 | $688 | $561 | $98,600 | $67,462 | 0.9% | #34 | #2238 | −25.6% |
| Granite County | 0.604% | $2,130 | $2,172 | $2,096 | $352,700 | $59,265 | 3.6% | #35 | #2243 | +41.9% |
| Petroleum County | 0.601% | $1,211 | $1,788 | $1,035 | $201,400 | $60,208 | 2.0% | #36 | #2262 | +2.7% |
| Treasure County | 0.592% | $1,364 | $1,707 | $1,258 | $230,300 | $67,917 | 2.0% | #37 | #2299 | +45.4% |
| Gallatin County | 0.589% | $3,933 | $3,939 | $3,920 | $667,600 | $93,528 | 4.2% | #38 | #2304 | +46.6% |
| Flathead County | 0.583% | $3,120 | $3,118 | $3,125 | $535,500 | $73,925 | 4.2% | #39 | #2329 | +43.3% |
| Stillwater County | 0.571% | $2,319 | $2,525 | $1,956 | $405,800 | $84,732 | 2.7% | #40 | #2369 | +46.2% |
| Park County | 0.565% | $2,641 | $2,595 | $2,700 | $467,500 | $70,047 | 3.8% | #41 | #2396 | +41.9% |
| Wheatland County | 0.560% | $1,013 | $1,268 | $749 | $180,800 | $49,489 | 2.0% | #42 | #2420 | +31.2% |
| Broadwater County | 0.559% | $2,384 | $2,374 | $2,412 | $426,600 | $70,374 | 3.4% | #43 | #2428 | +52.4% |
| Musselshell County | 0.548% | $1,287 | $1,343 | $1,244 | $235,000 | $58,920 | 2.2% | #44 | #2464 | +7.7% |
| Jefferson County | 0.547% | $2,446 | $2,577 | $2,308 | $446,900 | $95,490 | 2.6% | #45 | #2465 | +33% |
| Lincoln County | 0.545% | $1,615 | $1,629 | $1,603 | $296,500 | $47,143 | 3.4% | #46 | #2477 | +19.5% |
| Carbon County | 0.542% | $2,281 | $2,140 | $2,462 | $420,800 | $80,261 | 2.8% | #47 | #2491 | +42.2% |
| Golden Valley County | 0.533% | $1,132 | $1,438 | $932 | $212,200 | $58,333 | 1.9% | #48 | #2521 | +73.1% |
| Sanders County | 0.526% | $1,889 | $1,969 | $1,840 | $359,000 | $57,476 | 3.3% | #49 | #2544 | +45.3% |
| Ravalli County | 0.499% | $2,380 | $2,456 | $2,256 | $476,600 | $71,283 | 3.3% | #50 | #2639 | +42.7% |
| Fallon County | 0.498% | $1,220 | $1,317 | $994 | $244,800 | $76,250 | 1.6% | #51 | #2644 | +25.1% |
| Sweet Grass County | 0.489% | $1,615 | $1,869 | $1,460 | $330,100 | $77,000 | 2.1% | #52 | #2664 | +4.2% |
| Mineral County | 0.483% | $1,758 | $1,867 | $1,651 | $364,300 | $63,450 | 2.8% | #53 | #2685 | +40.3% |
| Carter County | 0.454% | $904 | $1,239 | $710 | $199,200 | $54,167 | 1.7% | #54 | #2780 | −2.7% |
| Judith Basin County | 0.447% | $1,066 | $1,144 | $1,028 | $238,300 | $59,000 | 1.8% | #55 | #2803 | +44.4% |
| Madison County | 0.412% | $1,937 | $1,987 | $1,897 | $470,100 | $75,250 | 2.6% | #56 | #2896 | +30.7% |
Data: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2020-2024 5-year estimates — tables B25103 (real-estate taxes), B25077 (home value), B19013 (household income) — and the 2024 Census county gazetteer. Public domain (Title 17 U.S.C. §105).
County detail — 4 Montana counties in depth
Full figures for the Montana counties most searched for, each with the Census margin of error on every median, both rankings, the five-year change, and the six nearest county-equivalents by centroid distance — nearby, not necessarily bordering, and cross-state neighbours included. For any individual property's assessed value, exemptions and bill, use that county's own assessor or appraisal district; per-county assessor URLs are never guessed here (why).
Missoula County 0.879% · median tax $4,150 · #1397 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $4,150 ± $96
- With a mortgage
- $4,226 ± $114
- Without a mortgage
- $3,984 ± $192
- Median home value
- $472,100 ± $10,711
- Median household income
- $75,598 ± $2,922
- Taxes as share of income
- 5.5%
- Effective rate
- 0.879%
- Rank in Montana
- #11 of 56
- National rank
- #1397 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $470,000 home
- $4,131
Median real-estate taxes rose 47% over five years ($2,824 → $4,150) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.115 percentage points (0.994% → 0.879%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $284,000 → $472,100 (+66.2%), and the rate changed −0.115 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Missoula County:
- Lake County, MT — 0.607%, median tax $2,561, 70 km away
- Powell County, MT — 0.686%, median tax $2,104, 76 km away
- Granite County, MT — 0.604%, median tax $2,130, 79 km away
- Mineral County, MT — 0.483%, median tax $1,758, 91 km away
- Ravalli County, MT — 0.499%, median tax $2,380, 107 km away
- Lewis and Clark County, MT — 0.791%, median tax $3,113, 115 km away
Yellowstone County 0.810% · median tax $2,832 · #1555 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $2,832 ± $61
- With a mortgage
- $2,867 ± $77
- Without a mortgage
- $2,769 ± $119
- Median home value
- $349,500 ± $5,510
- Median household income
- $76,570 ± $2,657
- Taxes as share of income
- 3.7%
- Effective rate
- 0.810%
- Rank in Montana
- #17 of 56
- National rank
- #1555 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $350,000 home
- $2,835
Median real-estate taxes rose 33.8% over five years ($2,117 → $2,832) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.126 percentage points (0.937% → 0.810%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $226,000 → $349,500 (+54.6%), and the rate changed −0.126 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Yellowstone County:
- Musselshell County, MT — 0.548%, median tax $1,287, 64 km away
- Big Horn County, MT — 1.098%, median tax $1,574, 83 km away
- Treasure County, MT — 0.592%, median tax $1,364, 84 km away
- Golden Valley County, MT — 0.533%, median tax $1,132, 85 km away
- Stillwater County, MT — 0.571%, median tax $2,319, 91 km away
- Carbon County, MT — 0.542%, median tax $2,281, 99 km away
Gallatin County 0.589% · median tax $3,933 · #2304 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $3,933 ± $94
- With a mortgage
- $3,939 ± $119
- Without a mortgage
- $3,920 ± $164
- Median home value
- $667,600 ± $15,234
- Median household income
- $93,528 ± $3,326
- Taxes as share of income
- 4.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.589%
- Rank in Montana
- #38 of 56
- National rank
- #2304 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $670,000 home
- $3,946
Median real-estate taxes rose 46.6% over five years ($2,682 → $3,933) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.162 percentage points (0.751% → 0.589%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $357,100 → $667,600 (+87%), and the rate changed −0.162 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Gallatin County:
- Park County, MT — 0.565%, median tax $2,641, 49 km away
- Madison County, MT — 0.412%, median tax $1,937, 62 km away
- Broadwater County, MT — 0.559%, median tax $2,384, 94 km away
- Jefferson County, MT — 0.547%, median tax $2,446, 97 km away
- Sweet Grass County, MT — 0.489%, median tax $1,615, 100 km away
- Meagher County, MT — 0.664%, median tax $1,725, 120 km away
Flathead County 0.583% · median tax $3,120 · #2329 nationally
- Median taxes — all owner-occupied
- $3,120 ± $68
- With a mortgage
- $3,118 ± $87
- Without a mortgage
- $3,125 ± $117
- Median home value
- $535,500 ± $17,031
- Median household income
- $73,925 ± $2,517
- Taxes as share of income
- 4.2%
- Effective rate
- 0.583%
- Rank in Montana
- #39 of 56
- National rank
- #2329 of 3,135
- Estimated tax on a $535,000 home
- $3,119
Median real-estate taxes rose 43.3% over five years ($2,178 → $3,120) — a statistically significant increase at 90% confidence. The effective tax rate fell 0.213 percentage points (0.796% → 0.583%), a change that is itself statistically significant at 90% confidence. Median home value moved $273,600 → $535,500 (+95.7%), and the rate changed −0.213 percentage points.
Nearest counties to Flathead County:
- Lake County, MT — 0.607%, median tax $2,561, 73 km away
- Glacier County, MT — 0.843%, median tax $1,391, 91 km away
- Sanders County, MT — 0.526%, median tax $1,889, 103 km away
- Lincoln County, MT — 0.545%, median tax $1,615, 108 km away
- Pondera County, MT — 0.801%, median tax $1,651, 136 km away
- Missoula County, MT — 0.879%, median tax $4,150, 142 km away
Comparing the non-overlapping Census periods 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 — consecutive 5-year estimates share survey sample and are never compared here.
How property tax works in Montana
Assessment, exemptions, appeals and payment are set by Montana law and practice, so they apply to every county in the table above. Each fact is taken from an official government source and linked to it.
- How property is assessed
- Montana sorts property into 16 classes and values each class differently. Class 4 (residential, commercial and industrial land and improvements) is valued at market value every two years; agricultural land (class 3) and forest land (class 10) use production value, also every two years. Most utility, business-equipment, pipeline and mining classes are valued every year. source →
- Exemptions & credits
- Montana's programs cut the tax rate, not value. PTAP reduces the rate 30, 50 or 80 percent on the first $418,000 of a home's market value, based on income and marital status. Disabled first responders and 100-percent-disabled veterans, or their unmarried surviving spouses, may receive 50, 70, 80 or 100 percent reductions. Homeowners 62 and older with household income under $45,000 may claim a refundable credit up to $1,150. source →
- Appealing an assessment
- File a Request for Informal Classification and Appraisal Review (Form AB-26) with the Department within 30 days of the date on your classification and appraisal notice. Alternatively, appeal directly to your county tax appeal board by filing with the county clerk and recorder within the same 30 days. From there the path runs to the Montana Tax Appeal Board, whose decisions are final unless taken to district court. source →
- Payment schedule & penalties
- County treasurers mail real property tax bills, usually in late October, and collect in two payments. The first is due by 5:00 PM on November 30, or within 30 days of the postmark on the tax notice, whichever is later; the second is due May 31. A due date falling on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day. source →
- Why rates vary within the state
- Rates turn on how the property is used. For tax year 2026 a primary residence or long-term rental is taxed on a tiered schedule: 0.76% on the first $378,000 of market value, 0.90% from $378,001 to $756,000, 1.10% to $1,511,999, and 1.90% above $1,512,000. Second homes, short-term rentals and vacant residential lots pay a flat 1.90%. source →
- What makes this state's system distinctive
- Montana's reduced homestead rate is opt-in: the owner must actually enroll to receive it. Property owned by an LLC, partnership, corporation or irrevocable trust is ineligible for the homestead rate, though those entities can qualify a property as a long-term rental. Enrollment for the 2027 tax year runs May 4, 2026 through March 1, 2027. source →
Hand-sourced from official government sources — not a substitute for your own assessor's notice, and not legal or tax advice. Where a fact isn't confirmed on an official source, it is left off rather than guessed, which is why some states show fewer rows than others.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the average property tax rate in Montana?
- Statewide, Montana's effective property-tax rate is 0.717% — the state median real-estate taxes ($2,693) divided by the state median home value ($375,800), from the Census ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. The national figure is about 0.937%, which puts Montana at #32 of 51 (1 = highest). Individual counties vary widely; the table above shows every one.
- Which Montana county has the highest property taxes?
- By effective rate, Blaine County is highest in Montana at 1.338% (median bill $2,080), and Madison County is lowest at 0.412% (median bill $1,937). Ranked by dollars paid rather than rate the order changes, because home values differ so much across the state — the table above shows both columns and sorts on either.
- What property tax exemptions are available in Montana?
- Montana's programs cut the tax rate, not value. PTAP reduces the rate 30, 50 or 80 percent on the first $418,000 of a home's market value, based on income and marital status. Disabled first responders and 100-percent-disabled veterans, or their unmarried surviving spouses, may receive 50, 70, 80 or 100 percent reductions. Homeowners 62 and older with household income under $45,000 may claim a refundable credit up to $1,150. Eligibility and filing are handled by your county assessor, and the exemption you qualify for changes your bill far more than the county you are in — the rates above are county medians and do not account for any exemption.
- How do I appeal a property tax assessment in Montana?
- File a Request for Informal Classification and Appraisal Review (Form AB-26) with the Department within 30 days of the date on your classification and appraisal notice. Alternatively, appeal directly to your county tax appeal board by filing with the county clerk and recorder within the same 30 days. From there the path runs to the Montana Tax Appeal Board, whose decisions are final unless taken to district court. Missing the deadline usually means waiting a full year, so check the date on your own assessment notice rather than relying on a general figure.
- When are property taxes due in Montana?
- County treasurers mail real property tax bills, usually in late October, and collect in two payments. The first is due by 5:00 PM on November 30, or within 30 days of the postmark on the tax notice, whichever is later; the second is due May 31. A due date falling on a weekend or holiday moves to the next business day. If your taxes are paid through a mortgage escrow account, your servicer pays on this schedule on your behalf.
- How is property assessed in Montana?
- Montana sorts property into 16 classes and values each class differently. Class 4 (residential, commercial and industrial land and improvements) is valued at market value every two years; agricultural land (class 3) and forest land (class 10) use production value, also every two years. Most utility, business-equipment, pipeline and mining classes are valued every year. This is why an effective rate computed from market value — as every rate on this page is — will not match the millage rate printed on your bill: the two are applied to different bases.
Compare & explore
See the national highest and lowest property-tax rates, or read the methodology behind every figure. The national median effective rate is 0.937%; Montana's statewide figure is 0.717%.