City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Big Sandy, MT

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

844
Residents
$58,083
Median income
$129,600
Median home
$1,307
Median rent (state)

Big Sandy - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Big Sandy lands in the 32nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

32nd
percentile, household income
21st
percentile, home value
47th
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: Big Sandy, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 844 residents in Big Sandy, a small town within Montana. Median household income here is $58,083 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.1%. Home values in Big Sandy run a median of $129,600, and the median resident age is 36.1 years. 16.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 55.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Big Sandy's yearly average temperature at 45.1°F with 13.3 inches of precipitation per year.

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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,307 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Montana's average monthly utility costs around $175 (state average). On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 39.5 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

Population

844 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$58,083 /yr

Poverty 7.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Big Sandy compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 21% pricier than other cities
Median rent 47% 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 Big Sandy'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.

32ndIncome percentile

32nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Big Sandy's home value compares nationally

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

$129,600 Among the most affordable more affordable than 79% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Big Sandy $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 - Big Sandy, MT Big Sandy, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Big Sandy, 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 Big Sandy, MT median $58,083/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%
Big Sandy, 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 Big Sandy, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 16.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.6%

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

Population
844
Median Income
$58,083
Median Home Value
$129,600
Median Age
36.1
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Labor force participation
55.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
16.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
45.1°F
Annual Precipitation
13.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
590 residents600 residents610 residents620 residents630 residents 202020212022202320242025 623 residents 598 residents ▼ -4.0%
Big Sandy's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
54.4%
Carpool
14.5%
Public Transit
1.7%
Walk
10.0%
Work from Home
19.4%

Based on 351 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 Big Sandy sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,307/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
39.5 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Pinesdale
847 people
Bridger
850 people
Trego
856 people
Scobey
824 people
Lincoln
868 people
Ulm
868 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Sandy's 844 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bonnie Brae, IL
844 people
Witt, IL
844 people
Lake Panorama, IA
844 people
Courtland, MN
844 people
Isola, MS
844 people
La Puebla, NM
844 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Sandy's $58,083 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Oldtown, ID
$58,088 median income
Cunningham, KS
$58,077 median income
Kershaw, SC
$58,077 median income
Warsaw, IL
$58,074 median income
Foley, MN
$58,092 median income
Pine Flat, CA
$58,095 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Big Sandy, 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 Big Sandy, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.8% 6.4% 14.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 77.8% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.6% American Indian 6.4% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 14.2% 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 Big Sandy 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
Big Sandy (this city) 844 $58,083
Pinesdale 847 $70,694
Bridger 850 $35,893
Trego 856 $91,667
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Big Sandy, MT?

What is the population of Big Sandy, MT? +

844 people live in Big Sandy, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Big Sandy, MT? +

Median annual household income in Big Sandy runs $58,083, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Big Sandy? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Big Sandy; 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 Big Sandy, MT? +

The median home value in Big Sandy is $129,600, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Big Sandy? +

Big Sandy has an average annual temperature of 45.1°F, 13.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, 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 Editorial

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

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.