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Daniels County

MT · Pop. 1,524 · Rural County

56/100Homestead Score

Daniels County is a rural county in Montana, spanning 1,426 square miles with 1,524 residents at a density of 1.1 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on wheat, hay, lentils. A median home price of $178,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.86% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 3b with a 103-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.7°F and average winter lows of 2°F. Annual rainfall averages 12.5 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Daniels Memorial Hospital is 5.6 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 94.6% of homes.

Property Tax: 0.86%
Growing Season: 103 days
Broadband: 94.6%
Density: 1.1/sq mi

Pros

  • A low effective property tax rate of 0.86% holds annual carrying costs down.
  • A median home price of $178,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
  • Broadband reaches 94.6% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
  • Daniels Memorial Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 5.6 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
  • A strong agricultural economy built on wheat, hay, lentils means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.

Cons

  • A 103-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
  • Annual rainfall of just 12.5 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
  • Average winter lows of 2°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.

At a glance

Daniels County, MT is a solid homesteading option with some tradeoffs.

Homestead score
56/100
Median home price
$178k
Property tax
0.86%
Growing season
103 days (zone 3b)
Annual rainfall
12.5"
Broadband
94.6%
Nearest hospital
Daniels Memorial Hospital, 5.6 mi

Taxes & Cost of Living

Property Tax Rate0.86%
Median Household Income$58,000
Poverty Rate11.9%

Land & Building

Median Home Price$178K

Climate & Growing

USDA Zone3b
Growing Season103 days
Annual Rainfall12.5 inches
Avg Summer High81.7°F
Avg Winter Low2°F
Top CropsWheat, Hay, Lentils

Natural Disaster Risk

Drought3/10
Wildfire4/10
Tornado1/10
Flood1/10

Healthcare

Nearest HospitalDaniels Memorial Hospital (5.6 mi)
Emergency RoomYes
Healthcare Facilities1

Infrastructure & Community

Broadband Coverage94.6%

Business & Employment

Unemployment Rate2.4%
Ag EconomyStrong

Homesteading in Daniels County: FAQ

What is the growing season like in Daniels County?
Daniels County is in USDA hardiness zone 3b with a 103-day growing season, average summer highs of 81.7°F, and average winter lows of 2°F. The established crops are wheat, hay, lentils.
How affordable is land and property here?
The median home price is $178,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.86%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
Is broadband internet available?
Broadband reaches 94.6% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
How close is healthcare?
Daniels Memorial Hospital is 5.6 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.

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Nearby counties

The closest counties to Daniels County by distance, including across state lines.

Data sources

Verified

Figures are sourced from public datasets: U.S. Census Bureau — ACS 5-year & Gazetteer, USDA NASS Census of Agriculture, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020), FEMA National Risk Index, FCC Broadband Data Collection, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, HIFLD Hospitals. Always confirm specifics locally before relying on them. See our methodology for how the homestead score is calculated.