City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Scobey, MT

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

824
Residents
$49,797
Median income
$184,800
Median home
$1,023
Median rent (state)

Scobey - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Scobey places in the 19th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

19th
percentile, household income
38th
percentile, home value
22nd
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: Scobey, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 824 residents in Scobey, a small town within Montana. The typical household in Scobey brings in $49,797 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 2.1%. Typical homes in Scobey are valued around $184,800, and the median resident age is 53.1 years. 24.3% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 61.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 1 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Stable), up 0% from five years earlier. The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 40.2°F with 13.5 inches of precipitation per year and 22.9 inches of snowfall.

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. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,023 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 1.8 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

824 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$49,797 /yr

Poverty 2.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Scobey compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 19% higher than other cities
Home value 38% pricier than other cities
Median rent 22% 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 Scobey'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.

19thIncome percentile

19th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Scobey's home value compares nationally

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

$184,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 62% 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. Scobey $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 - Scobey, MT Scobey, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Scobey, 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 Scobey, MT median $49,797/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%
Scobey, 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 Scobey, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 24.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 2.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 61.2%

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

Population
824
Median Income
$49,797
Median Home Value
$184,800
Median Age
53.1
Poverty Rate
2.1%
Labor force participation
61.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
24.3%

Climate

Avg Temperature
40.2°F
Annual Precipitation
13.5"
Annual Snowfall
22.9"

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 →
960 residents970 residents980 residents990 residents1,000 residents1,010 residents 202020212022202320242025 994 residents 972 residents ▼ -2.2%
Scobey's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

🏗️ Stable
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
1.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 1
2020 0
2021 1
2022 0
2023 0
2024 1

Permit volume increased 0% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.4%
Carpool
5.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
12.7%
Work from Home
4.5%

Based on 425 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 Scobey sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,023/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
1.8 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Big Sandy
844 people
Pinesdale
847 people
Bridger
850 people
Trego
856 people
Gardiner
791 people
Sheridan
788 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Scobey's 824 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Komatke, AZ
824 people
Council, ID
824 people
Wilson, KS
824 people
New Seabury, MA
824 people
Grawn, MI
824 people
Chadwicks, NY
824 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Scobey's $49,797 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Eunice, NM
$49,795 median income
West Hammond, NM
$49,795 median income
Hitterdal, MN
$49,792 median income
McGuffey, OH
$49,792 median income
Annex, OR
$49,792 median income
Poteau, OK
$49,789 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Scobey, 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 Scobey, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.9% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.0% White 90.9% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.5% American Indian 4.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 4.4% 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 Scobey 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
Scobey (this city) 824 $49,797
Big Sandy 844 $58,083
Pinesdale 847 $70,694
Bridger 850 $35,893
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Scobey, MT?

What is the population of Scobey, MT? +

Scobey, MT has a population of 824 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

The median household income in Scobey is $49,797 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Scobey? +

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

The median home value in Scobey is $184,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Scobey? +

Climate normals put Scobey's yearly average temperature at 40.2°F, 13.5 inches of precipitation, and 22.9 inches of snowfall per year. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

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

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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.