Income needed to buy a home

Yellowstone County, MT

$132,817

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

The monthly math

Typical home value$401,360
Down payment (10%)$40,136
Loan$361,224
Principal and interest (7.40%)$2,501/mo
Property tax (0.74% a year)$247/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$201/mo
Mortgage insurance$151/mo
Total monthly cost$3,099/mo

Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.

What locals earn

Far off

The typical household here earns $76,570 a year, 58% of what it takes.

In Montana

Yellowstone County ranks #40 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.