Glendive sits in eastern Montana at 2,064 feet — a town of roughly 4,873 people and the Dawson County seat, with a housing market shaped by its position on I-94, 220 miles east of Billings and 35 miles from the North Dakota border. The Yellowstone River runs through town, and Makoshika State Park — Montana's largest state park at 11,500 acres of badlands — rises at the city's edge. Glendive is a working railroad town, built by the Northern Pacific Railway (now BNSF), where transportation, energy, and healthcare sustain the economy. This guide covers current home values, rental rates, inventory trends, and the forces shaping Glendive's market. For the broader cost picture, see our Glendive cost of living guide, or visit the full Glendive profile.
Market Snapshot
Data as of January 2026. Sources: Zillow ZHVI, U.S. Census ACS.
Census vs. Zillow: The Most Stable Market in Montana
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey reports a median home value of $176,900 in Glendive, based on a 5-year rolling average (2019–2023). The Zillow Home Value Index — which tracks current market conditions — puts the typical home at $182,993. That 3% gap is the tightest of any Montana hub community — a signal that Glendive's market has been remarkably stable, with no speculative boom inflating prices beyond fundamentals. At $182,993, Glendive is firmly in the lower quartile of Montana home values, offering genuine entry-level pricing for the state.
The median list price of $199,667 runs close to the Zillow Home Value Index of $182,993, confirming that sellers are pricing realistically — there is no speculative premium on active listings. In a market of 2,279 total units, individual sales can move the median, but the consistency between Census, Zillow, and list price data paints a picture of a well-grounded market. Glendive's railroad heritage and Dawson County seat status provide economic stability without the volatility of oil-boom towns to the north. Among Montana towns, Glendive ranks in the 26th percentile for home values — lower quartile, reflecting eastern Montana pricing rather than western Montana resort dynamics.
Inventory & Supply Trends
Glendive currently has 59 homes listed for sale. Inventory has increased 20.4% compared to the same period last year — a meaningful expansion that gives buyers more options.
With an inventory rate of 12.1 homes per 1,000 residents, Glendive's supply is healthy and well above many Montana markets. The market includes in-town homes near the historic downtown, properties along the Yellowstone River, and ranch parcels on the outskirts. New construction is limited — Glendive is not a growth market with subdivisions — but the existing stock provides options from modest worker homes near the BNSF yards to larger properties with badlands views toward Makoshika. The 20.4% inventory increase YoY reflects a buyer's market where supply is outpacing demand, giving purchasers leverage that is rare in most Montana communities.
Rental Market
The Census ACS reports a median rent of $832 in Glendive. Glendive ranks in the 35th percentile for rents among Montana towns — in the lower third of the state's rental markets.
At $832 per month, Glendive's rent is well below Billings, Bozeman, or Missoula and competitive with Miles City and other eastern Montana towns. The moderate rents reflectGlendive's distance from western Montana population centers, but they also make the town a genuine option for railroad workers, energy sector employees, and retirees seeking affordable Montana living with Yellowstone River access and Makoshika State Park at the doorstep. The high vacancy rate keeps rent increases in check — landlords compete for tenants here, not the other way around.
Vacancy & Housing Stock
Glendive has 2,279 total housing units. The vacancy rate is 13.3% — roughly 303 units, one of the highest rates among Montana hub communities. This is a decisive buyer's market: housing is readily available, and buyers have genuine choice and negotiating leverage that is extremely rare in Montana's tighter markets farther west. Of the approximately 1,976 occupied units, the vast majority serve year-round residents in Glendive's established neighborhoods.
The housing stock reflects Glendive's history as a Northern Pacific Railway town. The grid-pattern streets near the BNSF yards hold worker cottages and mid-century homes, while the historic downtown along Merrill Avenue features commercial buildings from the town's founding era in the 1880s. Properties range from modest in-town homes to ranch acreage outside the city limits. Unlike oil-boom towns such as Williston and Sidney, where housing markets have whipsawed with crude prices, Glendive's Williston Basin exposure is moderate — enough to boost wages without creating the volatile boom-bust housing cycle.
Eastern Montana & Recreation Demand
Glendive's housing market benefits from Makoshika State Park — Montana's largest state park, with 11,500 acres of badlands, dinosaur fossils, and hiking trails — without the price inflation that destination parks create in western Montana. The Yellowstone River flows through town, offering paddlefish snagging, walleye, and catfish — a draw for anglers that adds lifestyle value without resort pricing.
Glendive's position on I-94 — 220 miles east of Billings and 35 miles from North Dakota — places it on a major transportation corridor without destination tourism pressure. The BNSF railroad remains central to the economy and the town's identity. Named by Sir George Gore in 1855 and founded in 1881, Glendive holds the record for Montana's all-time high temperature at 117°F in 1893 and produced Tim Babcock, the 16th Governor of Montana. These assets ground Glendive as an authentic eastern Montana community — one where the housing market reflects working-town economics, not speculation.
Buying vs. Renting
With an affordability ratio of 2.6 (median home value divided by median household income of $71,063), buying in Glendive is more achievable than in virtually any other Montana hub community. At current Zillow values, a median-priced home keeps monthly mortgage payments well within the standard 28% of gross income guideline — even for a single-earner household at the median. This is an exceptionally rare position in Montana, where most communities have pushed past the 3.0 comfort threshold.
The 13.3% vacancy rate and 59 active listings mean buyers have the broadest selection of any Montana hub market. Unlike Bozeman or Whitefish, where multiple offers and above-asking prices are common,Glendive's market gives buyers time, choice, and negotiating room. Montana's property taxes remain well below the national average and the state has no sales tax, reducing total cost of ownership. For those not ready to buy, renting at Glendive's rates — 35th percentile statewide — offers one of the lowest entry points in the state.
Market Outlook
Glendive's housing market is anchored by structural stability: the BNSF railroad provides consistent employment, Glendive Medical Center serves the region, and Dawson County government sustains baseline demand. The 3% Census-to-Zillow gap — tightest in Montana — shows this is not a market prone to speculative swings. Oil and gas activity from the Williston Basin provides periodic boosts without the destabilizing volatility seen in towns closer to the action.
Key factors to watch include whether inventory continues to expand (up 20.4% YoY) and how eastern Montana's appeal evolves as remote workers discover Glendive's combination of I-94 connectivity, Makoshika State Park, and Yellowstone River access at Montana's lowest hub price point. The 13.3% vacancy rate provides the most buyer-friendly conditions in the state — housing is available and affordable here in a way that most Montana communities simply cannot offer. For those seeking Montana living at the lowest cost among hub communities, Glendive remains the state's most compelling value — a railroad town on the Yellowstone where the real estate market reflects working economics, not resort speculation.