Compare Montana towns side by side

Deer Lodge vs Three Forks

Montana Town Comparison

Deer Lodge
The Prison City
Three Forks
The Headwaters City

A side-by-side comparison to help you decide which Montana community is right for you.

OverviewDeer LodgeThree Forks
Population3,0331,989
Elevation8,497 ft4,075 ft
CountyDeer Lodge CountyGallatin County
RegionWestern MontanaCentral Montana
Climate
January Avg High22°F37°F
January Avg Low10°F20°F
July Avg High66°F85°F
July Avg Low44°F57°F
Annual Precipitation29.2"18.1"
Annual Snowfall52.3"18.7"
Housing & Cost of Living (ACS 2019–2023)
Typical Home Value$277,204$535,753
Median Rent$781/mo$1,263/mo
Median Household Income$53,676$80,394
Access & Education
Nearest AirportButte (36 mi)Bozeman (25 mi)
Zip Code5972259752
School DistrictDeer Lodge Public SchoolsThree Forks Public Schools
Enrollment~450~500

Outdoor Recreation & Attractions (within 30 mi)

Deer Lodge: 142 sites | Three Forks: 92 sites

CategoryDeer LodgeThree Forks
🚣 Boat Launch11
Campground236
📍 Disc Golf11
🐟 Fishing Access826
Golf55
📜 Historic Site21
♨️ Hot Spring14
🏞️ Lake5213
🏛️ Museum1610
🌲 National Forest1
📍 Nature Reserve92
🎣 River11
🛣️ Scenic Drive1
⛷️ Ski Area1
🌳 State Park36
🥾 Trailhead1014
👀 Viewpoint22
💧 Waterfall4
🏕️ Wilderness1
Explore Deer LodgeExplore Three Forks
Moving to Deer Lodge Guide →Moving to Three Forks Guide →
← Compare different towns