Rosebud County
MT · Pop. 8,236 · Rural County
Rosebud County, Montana covers 5,008 square miles with a population of 8,236 and a density of 1.6 people per square mile, so rural land and genuine privacy are available. The agricultural economy is rated strong, built on hay, wheat, barley. A median home price of $189,000 and an effective property tax rate of 0.63% set the cost of entry. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 138-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.9°F and average winter lows of 11.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 14.7 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. Rosebud Health Care Center Hospital is 6.8 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 67.3% of homes. On the hazard side, flood risk is high, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- A low effective property tax rate of 0.63% holds annual carrying costs down.
- A median home price of $189,000 makes land and property relatively affordable.
- Rosebud Health Care Center Hospital, with an emergency room, is just 6.8 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A strong agricultural economy built on hay, wheat, barley means local markets, equipment, and know-how are in place.
- At 1.6 people per square mile, land is available with genuine space and privacy.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 138-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 14.7 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- Broadband reaches only 67.3% of homes, a real gap for remote work or online sales.
- A poverty rate of 21.6% reflects a constrained local economy with limited off-farm income options.
At a glance
Rosebud County, MT is a challenging place to homestead on the data.
- Homestead score
- 36/100
- Median home price
- $189k
- Property tax
- 0.63%
- Growing season
- 138 days (zone 4b)
- Annual rainfall
- 14.7"
- Broadband
- 67.3%
- Nearest hospital
- Rosebud Health Care Center Hospital, 6.8 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Rosebud County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Rosebud County?
- Rosebud County is in USDA hardiness zone 4b with a 138-day growing season, average summer highs of 84.9°F, and average winter lows of 11.4°F. The established crops are hay, wheat, barley.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $189,000 and the effective property tax rate is 0.63%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 67.3% of homes, so verify service at a specific parcel before purchasing.
- How close is healthcare?
- Rosebud Health Care Center Hospital is 6.8 miles away and includes an emergency room; there is 1 hospital in the county.
Explore Montana Resources
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More counties in Montana
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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.
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