Last checked October 29, 2026.
Hamilton, the Bitterroot Valley’s hub, is one of the more affordable towns in western Montana: a single adult needs about $39,500 a year at the Census median rent.
At a glance
| Population | 5,451 (July 2025 Census estimate) |
| Region | Glacier Country, Ravalli County |
| Median rent paid, Census | $947 all units (utilities included; 2020–2024 average) |
| Home prices | $415,302 median sale (Redfin, 3 months ending Sep 2026); $529,339 typical value (Zillow, Sep 2026) |
| Median home value, Census | $310,000 (2020–2024) |
| Median household income, Census | $49,204 (2020–2024) |
| Income needed, own place | $39,505 at the Census median rent (all unit sizes) |
| Electric and gas | NorthWestern Energy for both in town: 6,035 residential electric and 4,591 natural gas customers in Hamilton in 2025 (electric and gas annual reports to the Montana PSC). Ravalli Electric Co-op serves parts of the valley. |
| Resort tax | None |
| Hospital / airport | Bitterroot Health / Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) |
Rent
The listing sites’ Hamilton figures are either out of date or contradict themselves, so we rely on Census figures here.
The Census American Community Survey puts the median rent actually paid in Hamilton at $947 across all rentals, including utilities (Census ACS 2020–2024). That’s an average over five years and includes long-time tenants, so it runs below what a new renter is quoted today. The Census 1-bedroom figure for Hamilton is too uncertain to use (a margin of error of about 47%); the 2-bedroom median was $1,091.
Buying a home
Redfin’s median sale price was $415,302 for the three months ending September 2026, up 4.1% (Redfin). Zillow’s typical value, which covers all homes in the area, was $529,339 (Zillow). See property tax for the 2026 homestead rate.
Monthly budget, own place
| Rent (Census median rent, all unit sizes, utilities included) | $947 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $2,406 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $39,505 ($18.99 an hour) |
Same budget as our salary calculator; the car and other lines are explained there. Current asking rents are likely well above the Census median.