City profile · California · Census ACS 2023

Montague, CA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Montague - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,486
Residents
$55,096
Median income
$181,300
Median home
$1,249
Median rent (state)

Montague - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Montague lands in the 27th percentile for household income and the 66th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

27th
percentile, household income
37th
percentile, home value
41st
percentile, median rent
66th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Montague, CA

California's Montague is a small town, with 1,486 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Montague brings in $55,096 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 24.5%. Typical homes in Montague are valued around $181,300, and the median resident age is 38.8 years. About 12.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 45.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Montague reports a comparatively low crime rate: per-100,000 total crime stands at 941.0 in FBI UCR data, below the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

California carries a cost-of-living premium: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts California at 110.7 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Well Above Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,249 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in California run around $275, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. The average commute for Montague workers runs 25.9 minutes, with 77.2% driving alone and 4.4% working from home. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 89.0 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

1,486 residents

Census ACS 2023 - California

Median Household Income

$55,096 /yr

Poverty 24.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

110.7 (US=100)

Well Above Average - BEA RPP 2024, California average

How does Montague compare to other US cities?

Where Montague sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 27% higher than other cities
Home value 37% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% pricier than other cities
Safety 66% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to California alone, Montague ranks #48 of 441 California cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Montague against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to California only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

California-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Montague near the bottom of California's cities

Among the 1,458 California cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Montague ranks #1,423 - the 1st percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Montague only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#1,123 of 1,338
16th percentile in California
Median Gross Rent
#1,423 of 1,458
1st percentile in California
Median Home Value
#1,281 of 1,343
5th percentile in California
Poverty Rate
#138 of 1,450
90th percentile in California
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#1,135 of 1,458
22nd percentile in California

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within California only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

27thIncome percentile
66thSafety percentile

27th percentile nationally for median household income · 66th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Montague's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Montague's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 51 Avg. percentile National median
Montague's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Montague's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$181,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 63% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). This entry sits in this band. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Montague $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Montague, CA Montague, CA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Montague, CA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Montague, CA median $55,096/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Montague, CA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Montague, CA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 12.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 24.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,486
Median Income
$55,096
Median Home Value
$181,300
Median Age
38.8
Poverty Rate
24.5%
Labor force participation
45.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
12.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
941.0
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
598.8
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
342.2
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,150 residents1,200 residents1,250 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,220 residents 1,157 residents ▼ -5.2%
Montague's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
25.9 minutes
Drive Alone
77.2%
Carpool
18.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
4.4%

Based on 527 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for California - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$150
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$70
avg/month
Total Utilities
$275
estimated/month

Estimates reflect California state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a California state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Montague sits in

Cost of Living Index
110.7
Well Above Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,249/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
89.0 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in California

Forest Meadows
1,485 people
Diablo Grande
1,488 people
Baywood Park
1,481 people
Julian
1,491 people
Covelo
1,495 people
Monument Hills
1,500 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Montague's 1,486 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Belle Plaine, KS
1,486 people
Laurium, MI
1,486 people
Durand, IL
1,485 people
Waldoboro, ME
1,487 people
Quincy, MI
1,487 people
Lone Jack, MO
1,487 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Montague's $55,096 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Ridge Manor, FL
$55,096 median income
Bryant, IN
$55,096 median income
Carterville, MO
$55,099 median income
Lindenwold, NJ
$55,099 median income
Red Lake, MN
$55,092 median income
Brookridge, FL
$55,101 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Montague, CA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Montague, CA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 76.0% 13.1% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 17.4% White 76.0% Black or African American 3.6% Asian 0.5% American Indian 5.9% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.8% Two or more races 13.1% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Montague compares to nearby California cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Montague (this city) 1,486 $55,096
Forest Meadows 1,485 $88,250
Diablo Grande 1,488 $160,741
Baywood Park 1,481 $201,071
Census ACS 5-year FIPS CA FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Montague, CA?

What is the population of Montague, CA? +

1,486 people live in Montague, CA according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Montague, CA? +

The median household income in Montague is $55,096 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Montague? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Montague; the closest available measure is the California state average, a cost of living index of 110.7 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Well Above Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within California vary by metro area.

Is Montague, CA safe? +

Montague has a total crime rate of 941.0 per 100,000 residents, which is below the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Montague, CA? +

A typical home in Montague is worth $181,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.