10 Best Montana Towns for Families

10 Best Montana Towns for Families

Where Montana Families Thrive

Raising a family in Montana often means outdoor access, close-knit communities, and kids who grow up exploring the outdoors. But which towns offer the best combination of good schools, available housing, hospital access, strong job markets, and family-friendly recreation? We analyzed every Montana community across the factors that matter most to families.

Town Match

Find your Montana family town match

Weight schools, safety, jobs, and outdoor time—the ranked list reorders live as you adjust.

#1
BridgerThe Heart of Clark's Fork Valley
Pop. 719

Bridger ("The Heart of Clark's Fork Valley") has 200 students in the Bridger K-12 Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 95%. The community has very safe (10/10). Unemployment is 0%. Top industry: tourism & hospitality. Nearest hospital: 17.9 mi. With a very affordable cost of living and 66 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 10/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 95%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: 17.9 miHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 2.9xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#2
GlendiveThe Paddlefish Capital of the World
Pop. 4,873

Glendive ("The Paddlefish Capital of the World") has 1,000 students in the Glendive Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 89%. The community has very safe (8.8/10). Unemployment is 5.2%. Top industry: education & healthcare. Has a local hospital. With a very affordable cost of living and 29 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 8.8/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 89%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 2.9xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#3
WhitefishStumptown
Pop. 8,915

Whitefish ("Stumptown") has 1,800 students in the Whitefish School District school district. The local high school graduation rate is 95%. The community has safe (7.6/10). Unemployment is 2%. Top industry: education & healthcare. Has a local hospital. With a higher cost of living and 202 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 7.6/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 95%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 12.3xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#4
BakerThe Heart of Fallon County
Pop. 1,780

Baker ("The Heart of Fallon County") has 400 students in the Baker K-12 Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 92%. The community has very safe (9.5/10). Unemployment is 0%. Top industry: agriculture & mining. Has a local hospital. With a very affordable cost of living and 5 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 9.5/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 92%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 2.4xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#5
StevensvilleMontana's First Settlement
Pop. 1,337

Stevensville ("Montana's First Settlement") has 900 students in the Stevensville Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 91%. The community has very safe (9/10). Unemployment is 6.2%. Top industry: education & healthcare. Nearest hospital: 18.5 mi. With a higher cost of living and 238 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 9/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 91%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: 18.5 miHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 11.8xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#6
EnnisThe Trout Capital of Montana
Pop. 917

Ennis ("The Trout Capital of Montana") has 350 students in the Ennis Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 96%. The community has very safe (8.1/10). Unemployment is 1.2%. Top industry: tourism & hospitality. Has a local hospital. With a higher cost of living and 81 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 8.1/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 96%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 10.7xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#7
DarbyWhere the Bitterroot Begins
Pop. 783

Darby ("Where the Bitterroot Begins") has 300 students in the Darby Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 88%. The community has very safe (10/10). Unemployment is 3.4%. Top industry: construction. Nearest hospital: 15.5 mi. With a higher cost of living and 178 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 10/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 88%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: 15.5 miHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 14xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#8
PlainsThe Garden of the Clark Fork
Pop. 1,106

Plains ("The Garden of the Clark Fork") has 350 students in the Plains Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 90%. The community has very safe (9.1/10). Unemployment is 3.6%. Top industry: retail. Has a local hospital. With a higher cost of living and 61 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 9.1/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 90%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 17.9xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#9
GlasgowMontana's Great Getaway
Pop. 3,190

Glasgow ("Montana's Great Getaway") has 700 students in the Glasgow Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 90%. The community has safe (7/10). Unemployment is 0.5%. Top industry: education & healthcare. Has a local hospital. With a very affordable cost of living and 90 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 7/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 90%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 2.1xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).
#10
Miles CityThe Cow Capital of Montana
Pop. 8,412

Miles City ("The Cow Capital of Montana") has 1,400 students in the Miles City Public Schools school district. The local high school graduation rate is 87%. The community has very safe (8.3/10). Unemployment is 3.2%. Top industry: education & healthcare. Has a local hospital. With a moderate cost of living and 13 recreation sites nearby, it's a great place to raise kids.

Safety: 8.3/10Based on FBI crime reporting for the community. A higher score (closer to 10) means lower reported crime rates.Grad Rate: 87%Share of local high school students who graduate. Higher percentages generally point to stronger school outcomes.Hospital: In townHow far the nearest hospital is. “In town” means local hospital access; otherwise the distance is in miles.Affordability: 4.1xHow expensive homes are compared with local incomes. A lower number (like 3x) usually means housing is more stretch-friendly than a higher one (like 6x).

How We Ranked These Towns

Ranked by a composite family score: safety (FBI UCR crime rate, ×4), school quality (graduation rate, ×4), environmental health (EPA Superfund data, ×3), job market (Census unemployment rate, ×3), affordability ratio (×3), healthcare access (hospital proximity + trauma level, ×2), housing availability (×2), school enrollment (×2), recreation score (×2), and population (×1). Healthcare data from Montana DPHHS.

Data last collected: Zillow Research (Jan 2026), U.S. Census ACS (Jul 2026), FBI UCR (Mar 2026), Montana OPI/NCES (Jul 2026), Montana DPHHS (Jul 2026), EPA NPL (Jul 2026). Rankings are updated when data is refreshed. Check individual town profiles for details.

Explore More Rankings

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