Garfield County

MontanaPopulation: 976
65
/100
Buy
#253 of 1,000 counties
#13 in Montana (56 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated January 1, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$285,459
Median Home Price
25% above national median
$17,248/mo
Est. Rent
Based on regional data
6.04%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Estimated from price data
+$0
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
65/100
65
Cash Flow(30%)
0/100

Rent data not available for cash flow calculation.

Appreciation(25%)
78/100

Based on 10.7% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
61/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.6x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

  • +Strong price appreciation (+10.7% YoY)

Challenges

  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 0.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
  • -Limited rent data (estimates used)

Economic Indicators

Population
976
Median Income
$61,786
vs $54,921 national est.
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
4.6x
Moderately affordable

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +Appreciation buyers: YoY growth is meaningfully above the long-run average
Skip if
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
TetonMT
67$333,202Est. pending—BuyView
Powder RiverMT
66$263,390Est. pending—BuyView
CurrentGarfieldMT
65$285,459Est. pending—Buy
Judith BasinMT
65$272,944Est. pending—BuyView
ValleyMT
64$171,979Est. pending—BuyView
PowellMT
64$305,878Est. pending—BuyView

The Bottom Line

BuyGarfield offers solid investment potential with roughly break-even cash flow at typical financing.

Garfield County in Montana scores 65/100, ranking #253 of 1,000 US counties (top 32%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow. The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow
+$0/mo
Cap Rate
0.0%
Cash-on-Cash
0.0%

Related markets

All counties in Montana →

Rent vs buy in Montana cities

Rent vs buy in Billings, MTMedian $390,156 · rent $1,431/moRent vs buy in Missoula, MTMedian $558,040 · rent $1,475/moRent vs buy in Great Falls, MTMedian $331,268 · rent $1,335/moRent vs buy in Bozeman, MTMedian $683,515 · rent $2,137/moRent vs buy in Helena, MTMedian $450,626 · rent $1,523/moAll Montana citiesFull rent-vs-buy directory for the state

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