Last checked October 29, 2026.
Dillon, home to the University of Montana Western, has low rents for southwest Montana: a single adult needs about $34,400 a year at the Census median 1-bedroom rent.
At a glance
| Population | 4,085 (Census ACS 2020–2024) |
| Region | Southwest Montana, Beaverhead County |
| Median rent paid, Census | $666 for a 1-bedroom; $849 for a 2-bedroom (utilities included; 2020–2024 average) |
| Home prices | $339,000 median sale (Redfin, 3 months ending Aug 2026) |
| Median home value, Census | $256,700 (2020–2024) |
| Median household income, Census | $61,134 (2020–2024) |
| Income needed, own 1-bedroom | $34,369 at the Census median 1-bedroom rent |
| Electric and gas | NorthWestern Energy for both in town: 2,193 residential electric and 2,238 natural gas customers in Dillon in 2025 (electric and gas annual reports to the Montana PSC). The city also lists Vigilante Electric Co-op, which serves parts of the area (City of Dillon). |
| Resort tax | None |
| Hospital / airport | Barrett Hospital & HealthCare / nearest commercial airport in Butte |
Rent
The major rental listing sites don’t publish averages for Dillon, so we rely on Census figures here.
The Census American Community Survey puts the median rent actually paid in Dillon at $666 for a 1-bedroom and $849 for a 2-bedroom, 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.
Buying a home
Redfin’s median sale price was $339,000 for the three months ending August 2026, based on a small number of sales (Redfin). See property tax for the 2026 homestead rate.
Monthly budget, own 1-bedroom
| Rent (Census median 1-bedroom rent, utilities included) | $666 |
| Car, paid off | $441 |
| Groceries, health premium, phone and internet, eating out, renters insurance, other | $1,018 |
| Total | $2,125 |
| Salary needed with 10% saved, after taxes | $34,369 ($16.52 an hour) |
Same budget as our salary calculator; the car and other lines are explained there. Listing sites don’t publish Dillon averages; current asking rents are likely above the Census median.
Recent news
- Beaverhead County’s post-COVID building boom slowed, with three minor subdivisions (12 lots) approved in 2025 (Bozeman Daily Chronicle).