City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Elliston, MT

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

208
Residents
$41,719
Median income
$248,300
Median home
$1,133
Median rent (state)

Elliston - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Elliston places in the 9th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
55th
percentile, home value
31st
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: Elliston, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 208 residents in Elliston, a small town within Montana. Median household income here is $41,719 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 8.3%. Elliston's housing stock carries a median value of $248,300, and the median resident age is 34.5 years. 23.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 70.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Elliston's yearly average temperature at 40.3°F with 19.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,133 per month statewide. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 10.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

208 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$41,719 /yr

Poverty 8.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Elliston compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 55% pricier than other cities
Median rent 31% 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 Elliston'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.

9thIncome percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Elliston's home value compares nationally

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

$248,300 45th percentile more affordable than 45% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Elliston $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 - Elliston, MT Elliston, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Elliston, 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 Elliston, MT median $41,719/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%
Elliston, 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 Elliston, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 23.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 8.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 70.2%

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

Population
208
Median Income
$41,719
Median Home Value
$248,300
Median Age
34.5
Poverty Rate
8.3%
Labor force participation
70.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.3°F
Annual Precipitation
19.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
1
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
79.5%
Carpool
11.1%
Public Transit
3.4%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
6.0%

Based on 117 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 Elliston sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,133/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
10.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Highwood
209 people
St. Mary
209 people
West Glacier
209 people
Winifred
207 people
Moore
204 people
Riverview Colony
212 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Elliston's 208 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Onycha, AL
208 people
Nanwalek, AK
208 people
Tetlin, AK
208 people
Aguila, AZ
208 people
Valley Home, CA
208 people
Everglades, FL
208 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Elliston's $41,719 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Washington, NC
$41,723 median income
Greenville, VA
$41,724 median income
Ayden, NC
$41,711 median income
Alva, OK
$41,728 median income
Montvale, VA
$41,732 median income
Wiggins, MS
$41,705 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Elliston, 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 Elliston, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.4% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 89.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 4.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.3% 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 Elliston 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
Elliston (this city) 208 $41,719
Highwood 209 $71,875
St. Mary 209 N/A
West Glacier 209 $87,344
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Elliston, MT?

What is the population of Elliston, MT? +

Elliston, MT has a population of 208 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Elliston households earn a median of $41,719 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Elliston? +

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

A typical home in Elliston is worth $248,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Elliston? +

Climate normals put Elliston's yearly average temperature at 40.3°F, 19.1 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

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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.