Silver Bow County
MT · Pop. 35,589 · Suburban County
Silver Bow County, Montana covers 718 square miles with a population of 35,589 and a density of 49.6 people per square mile. The agricultural economy is rated weak, built on hay. The median home price is $224,000, with an effective property tax rate of 1.05%. The climate sits in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 80-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.8°F and average winter lows of 7.4°F. Annual rainfall averages 12.8 inches, generally adequate for the region's crops and pasture. St James Healthcare is 9.5 miles away and includes an emergency room. Broadband reaches 96.1% of homes. On the hazard side, wildfire risk is very high, so plan infrastructure and insurance accordingly.
Pros
- Broadband reaches 96.1% of homes, making remote work and online farm sales realistic.
- St James Healthcare, with an emergency room, is just 9.5 miles away — strong local healthcare access.
- A low unemployment rate of 3.7% reflects a stable local job base.
Cons
- Wildfire risk is very high, requiring defensible space, fire-resistant construction, and an evacuation plan.
- A 80-day growing season limits crop diversity and calls for season-extension tools.
- Annual rainfall of just 12.8 inches means irrigation and water storage are core requirements.
- Average winter lows of 7.4°F demand serious cold-weather infrastructure for livestock and water systems.
- The agricultural economy is rated weak, so local farm markets, suppliers, and services are limited.
At a glance
Silver Bow County, MT is a mixed homesteading prospect — weigh the tradeoffs.
- Homestead score
- 44/100
- Median home price
- $224k
- Property tax
- 1.05%
- Growing season
- 80 days (zone 5a)
- Annual rainfall
- 12.8"
- Broadband
- 96.1%
- Nearest hospital
- St James Healthcare, 9.5 mi
Taxes & Cost of Living
Land & Building
Climate & Growing
Natural Disaster Risk
Healthcare
Infrastructure & Community
Business & Employment
Homesteading in Silver Bow County: FAQ
- What is the growing season like in Silver Bow County?
- Silver Bow County is in USDA hardiness zone 5a with a 80-day growing season, average summer highs of 76.8°F, and average winter lows of 7.4°F. The established crops are hay.
- How affordable is land and property here?
- The median home price is $224,000 and the effective property tax rate is 1.05%. There's no published county per-acre figure, so use recent comparable sales to gauge raw-land value.
- Is broadband internet available?
- Broadband reaches 96.1% of homes, strong coverage that supports remote work for most parcels.
- How close is healthcare?
- St James Healthcare is 9.5 miles away and includes an emergency room; there are 2 hospitals in the county.
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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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