City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Big Sky, MT

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

2,388
Residents
$103,625
Median income
$884,700
Median home
$2,154
Median rent (state)

Big Sky - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Big Sky places in the 80th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

80th
percentile, household income
96th
percentile, home value
86th
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 Sky, MT

2,388 people live in Big Sky, Montana - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Big Sky households earn a median of $103,625 annually, placing it in the top quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 1.1%. Typical homes in Big Sky are valued around $884,700, and the median resident age is 38.5 years. About 58.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 76.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA climate normals record an annual average temperature of 37.7°F with 23.3 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Montana at 94.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $2,154 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 81.0 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (High).

Population

2,388 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$103,625 /yr

Poverty 1.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Big Sky compare to other US cities?

Big Sky measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 80% higher than other cities
Home value 96% pricier than other cities
Median rent 86% 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

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

Montana-relative analysis

Median Home Value is Big Sky's strongest outlier among Montana cities

Among the 279 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Big Sky ranks #4 - the 99th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Big Sky only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#22 of 282
92nd percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 317
96th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#4 of 279
99th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#225 of 315
28th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#10 of 317
97th percentile in Montana

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 Montana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

80thIncome percentile

80th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Big Sky's home value compares nationally

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

$884,700 4th percentile more affordable than 4% 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%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Below this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). This entry sits in this band. $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 Sky $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 Sky, MT Big Sky, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Big Sky, 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 Sky, MT median $103,625/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 Sky, 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 Sky, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 58.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 76.3%

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

Population
2,388
Median Income
$103,625
Median Home Value
$884,700
Median Age
38.5
Poverty Rate
1.1%
Labor force participation
76.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
58.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
37.7°F
Annual Precipitation
23.3"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
58.7%
Carpool
2.9%
Public Transit
3.3%
Walk
6.6%
Work from Home
27.9%
Other
0.6%

Based on 1,506 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 Sky sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$2,154/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
81.0 / 100
High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Red Lodge
2,399 people
King Arthur Park
2,343 people
Townsend
2,232 people
Conrad
2,553 people
Stevensville
2,172 people
Wolf Point
2,604 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Sky's 2,388 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Richlands, NC
2,387 people
Adamstown, PA
2,387 people
Idalou, TX
2,389 people
Cumberland, WI
2,389 people
Greensboro, AL
2,390 people
Delmar, DE
2,386 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Big Sky's $103,625 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Farmers Loop, AK
$103,635 median income
Davis Junction, IL
$103,615 median income
Monroe, OH
$103,638 median income
Palo, IA
$103,646 median income
Peconic, NY
$103,654 median income
Taos, MO
$103,594 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Big Sky, 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 Sky, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 95.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.8% White 95.8% Black or African American 0.2% Asian 0.0% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.3% Two or more races 2.7% 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 Sky 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 Sky (this city) 2,388 $103,625
Red Lodge 2,399 $43,857
King Arthur Park 2,343 $107,341
Townsend 2,232 $70,774
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Big Sky, MT?

What is the population of Big Sky, MT? +

2,388 people live in Big Sky, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Big Sky is $103,625 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Big Sky? +

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

The median home value in Big Sky is $884,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Big Sky? +

Climate normals put Big Sky's yearly average temperature at 37.7°F, 23.3 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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