Lake County, Montana Housing Market
In Lake County, Montana, the median home value is $421,800, with a median monthly rent of $901. This places Lake County at #247 nationally out of 3134 counties by median home value, and #9 within Montana.
📈 Price Trend (2017 → 2024)
📊 Recent Market Momentum (FHFA HPI)
FHFA House Price Index — All-Transactions, Annual (2000 = 100) · Latest: 2025
📍 Economic Snapshot
Employment & Wages
- Avg weekly wage: $997
- Establishments: 1,220
- BLS QCEW, 2025
Housing Supply
- Single-family: 22
- Multi-family: 54
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
Migration Patterns
- Inflow: 12,682 (avg $78,135)
- Outflow: 11,348 (avg $70,934)
- IRS Statistics of Income
📍 Sub-Market Activity
Top 1 active ZIP codes in Lake County · Latest: 2025
| # | ZIP Code | HPI | YoY Change | Latest Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 59860 | 356.8 | -2.85% | 2025 |
Source: FHFA HPI for Five-Digit ZIP Codes (All-Transactions Index, 2000 = 100).
This product uses FHFA Data but is neither endorsed nor certified by FHFA.
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💰 Mortgage Guide → 🧾 Property Tax Data →How Lake County Compares
| Metric | Lake County | Montana Average | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $421,800 | $276,876 | $227,706 |
| Median Gross Rent | $901 | $842 | $968 |
| Owner Occupancy Rate | 75.0% | 73.0% | 73.3% |
| Price/Rent Ratio | 39.0 | 27.2 | 18.7 |
Market Analysis
The median home value in Lake County is 52.3% above the Montana state average and 85.2% above the U.S. national average. The median rent of $901/month is 7.0% above the state average.
With a price-to-rent ratio of 39.0, Lake County is a strongly rent-favored market. Home prices are high relative to rents, meaning renting is typically far cheaper than owning in the near term.
Lake County has an owner-occupancy rate of 75.0%, compared to 73.0% in Montana and 73.3% nationally. This indicates a more homeowner-heavy market than the U.S. average.
Similar Counties by Home Value
| County | State | Median Home Value | Median Rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clallam County | Washington | $421,800 | $1,152 |
| Washington County | Minnesota | $422,000 | $1,710 |
| Columbia County | Oregon | $421,600 | $1,373 |
| Hillsborough County | New Hampshire | $421,100 | $1,623 |
| Carbon County | Montana | $420,800 | $844 |
Other Counties in Montana
| County | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Owner Occ. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | $420,800 | $844 | 78.0% |
| Broadwater County | $426,600 | $955 | 87.8% |
| Stillwater County | $405,800 | $961 | 82.9% |
| Jefferson County | $446,900 | $925 | 84.2% |
| Lewis and Clark County | $393,500 | $1,102 | 70.1% |
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 2024 5-Year Estimates (2017–2024). Variables: B25077 (Median Home Value), B25064 (Median Gross Rent), B25003 (Tenure). Data collected on 2026-10-14. The price-to-rent ratio is calculated as Median Home Value ÷ (Median Monthly Rent × 12).