City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Colstrip, MT

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

2,156
Residents
$86,000
Median income
$193,700
Median home
$1,186
Median rent (state)

Colstrip - the verdict

Colstrip ranks in the 67th percentile for household income and the 98th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

67th
percentile, household income
41st
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
98th
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: Colstrip, MT

Montana's Colstrip is a small town, with 2,156 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Colstrip brings in $86,000 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.0%. Colstrip's housing stock carries a median value of $193,700, and the median resident age is 43.5 years. Educational attainment runs 25.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 64.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 0 residential building permits were authorized in Colstrip (No Permits), per Census BPS data. Colstrip reports a comparatively low crime rate: FBI UCR figures show 97.8 crimes per 100,000 residents, below the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score). NOAA puts Colstrip's yearly average temperature at 46.1°F with 16.4 inches of precipitation per year and 36.6 inches of snowfall.

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). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,186 monthly. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Montana's average monthly utility costs around $175 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 49.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Low).

Population

2,156 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$86,000 /yr

Poverty 9.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Colstrip compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 67% higher than other cities
Home value 41% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities
Safety 98% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Montana, Colstrip ranks #1 of 39 Montana cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Colstrip'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.

67thIncome percentile
98thSafety percentile

67th percentile nationally for median household income · 98th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Colstrip's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Colstrip'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 76 Avg. percentile National median
Colstrip'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 Colstrip's home value compares nationally

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

$193,700 Among the most affordable more affordable than 59% 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. Colstrip $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 - Colstrip, MT Colstrip, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Colstrip, 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 Colstrip, MT median $86,000/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%
Colstrip, 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 Colstrip, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 25.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.4%

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

Population
2,156
Median Income
$86,000
Median Home Value
$193,700
Median Age
43.5
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Labor force participation
64.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
25.2%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
97.8
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
97.8
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.

Climate

Avg Temperature
46.1°F
Annual Precipitation
16.4"
Annual Snowfall
36.6"

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 →
2,020 residents2,040 residents2,060 residents2,080 residents2,100 residents2,120 residents 202020212022202320242025 2,095 residents 2,091 residents ▼ -0.2%
Colstrip'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

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
92.2%
Carpool
5.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
1.4%
Work from Home
0.0%
Other
0.8%

Based on 1,053 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 Colstrip sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,186/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
49.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Manhattan
2,149 people
Stevensville
2,172 people
Crow Agency
2,110 people
Townsend
2,232 people
East Missoula
2,072 people
Three Forks
2,034 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Colstrip's 2,156 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Jamestown, TN
2,156 people
Hooverson Heights, WV
2,156 people
Yale, MI
2,157 people
Bristol, NH
2,157 people
Mont Clare, PA
2,155 people
Bellevue, IL
2,158 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Colstrip's $86,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Martinton, IL
$86,000 median income
Bemus Point, NY
$86,000 median income
Montrose, SD
$86,000 median income
Viola, WI
$86,000 median income
Cypress Gardens, FL
$85,997 median income
Lahaina, HI
$85,988 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Colstrip, 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 Colstrip, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 77.9% 18.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 7.6% White 77.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 18.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 2.7% Two or more races 1.4% 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 Colstrip 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
Colstrip (this city) 2,156 $86,000
Manhattan 2,149 $69,671
Stevensville 2,172 $52,745
Crow Agency 2,110 $49,333
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT FBI UCR NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Colstrip, MT?

What is the population of Colstrip, MT? +

Colstrip, MT counts 2,156 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Median annual household income in Colstrip runs $86,000, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Colstrip? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Colstrip; 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.

Is Colstrip, MT safe? +

Colstrip has a total crime rate of 97.8 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 Colstrip, MT? +

Homes in Colstrip carry a median value of $193,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Colstrip? +

The average annual temperature in Colstrip runs 46.1°F, 16.4 inches of precipitation, and 36.6 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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