Income needed to buy a home
Carter County, MT
$54,097
a year in household income to buy the typical Carter County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$173,474
Down payment (10%)$17,347
Loan$156,127
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,081/mo
Property tax (0.2% a year)$29/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$87/mo
Mortgage insurance$65/mo
Total monthly cost$1,262/mo
Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.
What locals earn
Right at the edge
The typical household here earns $54,167 a year, 0% more than it takes.
In Montana
Carter County ranks #4 of 56 for the income a home takes, from least to most.
Easiest to afford in Montana
| County | Typical home | Income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | $133,878 | $43,122 |
| Roosevelt County | $151,704 | $49,849 |
| Glacier County | $166,389 | $53,581 |
| Daniels County | $170,973 | $58,434 |
| Wheatland County | $184,034 | $59,204 |
Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.