Last checked October 29, 2026.
Central Montana is one of the cheapest regions to live in: renting your own 1-bedroom takes about $36,000 a year in Lewistown and about $40,300 in Havre at current asking rents. Great Falls, the region’s hub, needs about $47,500.
| Town | Census median rent, 1-bedroom | Income needed at Census rent | Income needed at current asking rents | Census median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewistown | $523 | $31,755 | $35,996 | $198,400 |
| Havre | $619 | $33,510 | $40,255 | $211,700 |
| Great Falls | $676 | $34,552 | $47,457 | $257,000 |
Census figures: ACS 2020–2024, rent paid including utilities. Income needed: single adult, paid-off car, 10% saved, after taxes. See all towns for details.
Region notes
- Utilities: NorthWestern Energy supplies electricity in all three towns and gas in Havre and Lewistown; NorthWestern Energy Great Falls (formerly Energy West) supplies gas in Great Falls.
- Getting around: Great Falls Transit charges $1 a ride. Havre has commercial flights; from Lewistown the nearest is Great Falls.