Is Golden Valley County, MT good for real estate investing?

Golden Valley County has an investment score of 59/100, rated as "Hold". The county ranks #402 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the median home price in Golden Valley?

The median home price in Golden Valley County is $202,891. This ranks #389 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Golden Valley?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Golden Valley County would generate positive cash flow of $0/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Golden Valley County

MontanaPopulation: 841

/100

Hold

#402 of 1,000 counties

#22 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

$202,891

Median Home Price

11% below national median

$12,259/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

59/100

Cash Flow(30%)

0/100

Rent data not available for cash flow calculation.

Appreciation(25%)

53/100

Based on 0.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

74/100

Price-to-income ratio of 3.7x. 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

+Affordable relative to local incomes

Challenges

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

Economic Indicators

Population

841

Median Income

$54,792

vs $54,921 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

3.7x

Moderately affordable

Who this market fits

Skip if

−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
StillwaterMT	60	$437,730	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
CurrentGolden ValleyMT	59	$202,891	Est. pending	—	Hold
ChouteauMT	59	$285,884	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
DawsonMT	59	$185,301	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
PhillipsMT	59	$214,980	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
Big HornMT	58	$204,287	Est. pending	—	Hold	View

The Bottom Line

HoldGolden Valley is a neutral market.

Golden Valley County in Montana scores 59/100, ranking #402 of 1,000 US counties (top 51%). 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%