Income needed to buy a home
Valley County, MT
$68,742
a year in household income to buy the typical Valley County home with 10% down.
The monthly math
Typical home value$203,751
Down payment (10%)$20,375
Loan$183,376
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,270/mo
Property tax (0.92% a year)$156/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$102/mo
Mortgage insurance$76/mo
Total monthly cost$1,604/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 $71,695 a year, 4% more than it takes.
In Montana
Valley County ranks #11 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 |
| 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.