Cost of homeownership in Flathead County, Montana
Real dollar cost of ownership, rent-vs-buy analysis, and flood risk, backed by Census ACS, FEMA, and FHFA data. Population: 105,950.
Total annual ownership cost
Breakdown of what owning a typical home in Flathead County costs each year.
- Property taxes$2,727
- Insurance estimate$1,500
- Utilities / energy$1,402
- Maintenance (1% of value)$4,142
- Total$9,771/yr · $814/mo
Insurance and energy figures typically vary by property. Adjust in the calculators for a personalized estimate.
Rent vs. buy in Flathead County
Pre-filled with local median home value, median gross rent (Census ACS / HUD FMR), and current FRED rate.
Flood risk
Historical signal from FEMA National Flood Insurance Program.
Historical claims do not capture uninsured properties. A low score does not eliminate flood risk. FEMA flood-zone maps at msc.fema.gov list parcel-level designations.
Full flood-risk breakdown →Home price trend in Montana
FHFA House Price Index, quarterly.
Property tax above state average.
Share of units owner-occupied (Census ACS).
Census ACS 5-year estimate.
Housing cost burden in Flathead County
Share of households paying 30% or more of income on housing (HUD CHAS 2017-2021). HUD does not publish county-level CHAS rollups through the public API, so Montana state data is shown for local context alongside the US average.
Affordability by income bracket
Monthly 30% housing budget at each income vs the median owner cost in Flathead County. Bars above the dashed line can absorb this county's typical ownership cost.
HUD area median income (4-person household) for Montana: $95,700. Income limits define 80% AMI at $76,550 and 50% AMI at $47,850.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to own a home in Flathead County?
Based on Census ACS, typical total annual cost in Flathead County is around $9,771 ($814 per month), covering property tax, insurance estimate, utilities, and 1% maintenance. Your actual cost varies by home age, size, and location within the county.
What is the property tax in Flathead County?
Median annual property tax is $2,727 on the county's median home value of $414,200 (Census ACS).
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Flathead County?
Annual ownership cost is roughly 21% lower than annual rent at the county's median. Use the calculator below to model your specific situation.
What is the flood risk in Flathead County?
moderate historical flood-risk score from FEMA NFIP: 32 claims, average claim $11,172.
Data sources
- Census ACS 5-year: FIPS 30029
- FEMA NFIP: flood claims aggregation
- HUD Fair Market Rents
- HUD CHAS: cost-burden rollups
- HUD Income Limits
- FHFA HPI
- FRED MORTGAGE30US: as of 2026-04-23