Income needed to buy a home

Dawson County, MT

$70,335

a year in household income to buy the typical Dawson County home with 10% down.

The monthly math

Typical home value$206,592
Down payment (10%)$20,659
Loan$185,933
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,287/mo
Property tax (1% a year)$173/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$103/mo
Mortgage insurance$77/mo
Total monthly cost$1,641/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 $71,334 a year, 1% more than it takes.

In Montana

Dawson County ranks #12 of 56 for the income a home takes, from least to most.

Easiest to afford in Montana

CountyTypical homeIncome needed
Prairie County$133,878$43,122
Roosevelt County$151,704$49,849
Glacier County$166,389$53,581
Carter County$173,474$54,097
Daniels County$170,973$58,434

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.