City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Belt, MT

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

525
Residents
$72,083
Median income
$170,500
Median home
$1,284
Median rent (state)

Belt - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Belt lands in the 52nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

52nd
percentile, household income
34th
percentile, home value
45th
percentile, median rent
📝 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: Belt, MT

Montana's Belt is a small town, with 525 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $72,083 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.6%. Belt's housing stock carries a median value of $170,500, and the median resident age is 48.3 years. 20.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Belt (No Permits), per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: the state registers 94.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,284 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 83.1 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

525 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$72,083 /yr

Poverty 4.6%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Belt compare to other US cities?

Here's how Belt stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 52% higher than other cities
Home value 34% pricier than other cities
Median rent 45% pricier than other cities

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

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Belt's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Montana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

52ndIncome percentile

52nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Belt's home value compares nationally

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

$170,500 Among the most affordable more affordable than 66% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Belt $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 - Belt, MT Belt, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Belt, MT-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 Belt, MT median $72,083/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%
Belt, MT'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 Belt, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.6%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.9%

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

Population
525
Median Income
$72,083
Median Home Value
$170,500
Median Age
48.3
Poverty Rate
4.6%
Labor force participation
62.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.9%

Schools

Total Schools
4
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
500 residents510 residents520 residents530 residents 202020212022202320242025 503 residents 523 residents ▲ +4.0%
Belt's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
62.6%
Carpool
27.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.7%
Work from Home
2.7%
Other
1.4%

Based on 297 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

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

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$175
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Montana 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 Montana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Belt sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,284/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
83.1 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Huntley
534 people
Circle
543 people
Turah
507 people
Riverbend
505 people
Worden
545 people
Heart Butte
504 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Belt's 525 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Cane Beds, AZ
525 people
Huntington, AR
525 people
Key Colony Beach, FL
525 people
Ellsworth, IA
525 people
Riverwood, KY
525 people
Peck, MI
525 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Belt's $72,083 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Dutton, AL
$72,083 median income
Salcha, AK
$72,083 median income
Morristown, AZ
$72,083 median income
Davenport, CA
$72,083 median income
Ducor, CA
$72,083 median income
Hillrose, CO
$72,083 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Belt, MT 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 Belt, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.0% 7.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.6% White 89.0% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.4% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 7.4% Two or more races 2.5% 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 Belt compares to nearby Montana cities

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

City Population Median Household Income
Belt (this city) 525 $72,083
Huntley 534 $91,667
Circle 543 $81,250
Turah 507 $128,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Belt, MT?

What is the population of Belt, MT? +

525 people live in Belt, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Belt, MT? +

Median annual household income in Belt runs $72,083, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Belt? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Belt; the closest available measure is the Montana state average, a cost of living index of 94.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Montana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Belt, MT? +

The median home value in Belt is $170,500, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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 Editorial

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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.