City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Browning, MT

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

990
Residents
$34,318
Median income
$121,100
Median home
$1,275
Median rent (state)

Browning - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Browning places in the 4th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

4th
percentile, household income
18th
percentile, home value
44th
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: Browning, MT

Montana's Browning is a small town, with 990 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Browning households earn a median of $34,318 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 36.5%. Home values in Browning run a median of $121,100, and the median resident age is 28.7 years. Educational attainment runs 13.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 49.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 5 public schools according to NCES Common Core of 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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,275 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 51.5 out of 100 (Low).

Population

990 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$34,318 /yr

Poverty 36.5%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Browning compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 4% higher than other cities
Home value 18% pricier than other cities
Median rent 44% 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 Browning against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Browning's strongest outlier among Montana cities

Among the 315 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Browning ranks #23 - the 93rd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Browning only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#264 of 282
6th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#218 of 317
29th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#237 of 279
15th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#23 of 315
93rd percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#249 of 317
21st 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.

4thIncome percentile

4th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Browning's home value compares nationally

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

$121,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 82% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Browning $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 - Browning, MT Browning, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Browning, 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 Browning, MT median $34,318/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%
Browning, 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 Browning, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 13.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 36.5%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 49.5%

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

Population
990
Median Income
$34,318
Median Home Value
$121,100
Median Age
28.7
Poverty Rate
36.5%
Labor force participation
49.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
13.1%

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
70.5%
Carpool
10.1%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
12.8%
Work from Home
3.0%
Other
3.6%

Based on 336 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 Browning sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,275/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
51.5 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Florence
993 people
Superior
995 people
Absarokee
998 people
Vaughn
970 people
Ponderosa Pines
969 people
Philipsburg
1,012 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Browning's 990 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Marshallville, GA
990 people
Oquawka, IL
990 people
Queenstown, MD
990 people
Palenville, NY
990 people
Tully, NY
990 people
Siletz, OR
990 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Browning's $34,318 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Jackson, KY
$34,317 median income
Skidway Lake, MI
$34,320 median income
Ford Heights, IL
$34,323 median income
Los Molinos, CA
$34,324 median income
Chipley, FL
$34,311 median income
Columbia, MS
$34,328 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Browning, 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 Browning, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 2.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.4% American Indian 94.5% Native Hawaiian 0.4% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 1.1% 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 Browning 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
Browning (this city) 990 $34,318
Florence 993 $97,850
Superior 995 $43,750
Absarokee 998 $57,212
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Browning, MT?

What is the population of Browning, MT? +

990 people live in Browning, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Browning, the typical household earns $34,318 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Browning? +

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

A typical home in Browning is worth $121,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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