Cost of homeownership in Petroleum County, Montana
Real dollar cost of ownership, rent-vs-buy analysis, and flood risk, backed by Census ACS, FEMA, and FHFA data. Population: 416.
Total annual ownership cost
Breakdown of what owning a typical home in Petroleum County costs each year.
- Property taxes$1,298
- Insurance estimate$1,500
- Utilities / energy$1,402
- Maintenance (1% of value)$1,526
- Total$5,726/yr · $477/mo
Insurance and energy figures typically vary by property. Adjust in the calculators for a personalized estimate.
Rent vs. buy in Petroleum County
Pre-filled with local median home value, median gross rent (Census ACS / HUD FMR), and current FRED rate.
Home price trend in Montana
FHFA House Price Index, quarterly.
Property tax below state average.
Share of units owner-occupied (Census ACS).
Census ACS 5-year estimate.
Housing cost burden in Petroleum 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 Petroleum 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 Petroleum County?
Based on Census ACS, typical total annual cost in Petroleum County is around $5,726 ($477 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 Petroleum County?
Median annual property tax is $1,298 on the county's median home value of $152,600 (Census ACS).
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Petroleum County?
Annual ownership cost is roughly 33% lower than annual rent at the county's median. Use the calculator below to model your specific situation.
What is the flood risk in Petroleum County?
FEMA NFIP data for Petroleum County is pending.
Data sources
- Census ACS 5-year: FIPS 30069
- 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