City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Three Forks, MT

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

2,034
Residents
$80,394
Median income
$382,400
Median home
$1,748
Median rent (state)

Three Forks - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Three Forks places in the 62nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

62nd
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
71st
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: Three Forks, MT

Montana's Three Forks is a small town, with 2,034 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Three Forks brings in $80,394 a year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.1%. Three Forks's housing stock carries a median value of $382,400, and the median resident age is 42.6 years. About 21.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 66.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 1 residential building permits were authorized in Three Forks (Construction Slowdown), down 80% from five years earlier, per Census BPS 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. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,748 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 17.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,034 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$80,394 /yr

Poverty 5.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Three Forks compare to other US cities?

Where Three Forks sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 62% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 71% 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 Three Forks against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent is Three Forks's strongest outlier among Montana cities

Among the 317 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Three Forks ranks #15 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Three Forks only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#63 of 282
78th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#15 of 317
92nd percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#64 of 279
77th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#182 of 315
42nd percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#167 of 317
47th 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.

62ndIncome percentile

62nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Three Forks's home value compares nationally

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

$382,400 24th percentile more affordable than 24% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Three Forks $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 - Three Forks, MT Three Forks, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Three Forks, 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 Three Forks, MT median $80,394/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%
Three Forks, 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 Three Forks, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 66.3%

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

Population
2,034
Median Income
$80,394
Median Home Value
$382,400
Median Age
42.6
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Labor force participation
66.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.3%

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 →
1,900 residents1,920 residents1,940 residents1,960 residents1,980 residents2,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,982 residents 1,920 residents ▼ -3.1%
Three Forks's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
1
housing units authorized
Single-Family
1
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
0.5
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 5
2020 7
2021 7
2022 42
2023 3
2024 1

Permit volume decreased 80% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
81.3%
Carpool
0.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
6.2%
Work from Home
9.1%
Other
2.7%

Based on 1,093 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 Three Forks sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,748/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
17.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Eureka
2,009 people
East Missoula
2,072 people
West Glendive
1,968 people
Roundup
1,964 people
Ronan
1,962 people
Crow Agency
2,110 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Three Forks's 2,034 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Fort Polk North, LA
2,034 people
Pittsville, MD
2,034 people
Clinton, WI
2,034 people
Ely, IA
2,033 people
Hickman, KY
2,033 people
Mountain Lake Park, MD
2,033 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Three Forks's $80,394 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Kingsland, GA
$80,395 median income
Lake St. Clair, MO
$80,392 median income
Holland, MN
$80,391 median income
Glassboro, NJ
$80,388 median income
Knoxville, IL
$80,385 median income
Auburndale, WI
$80,407 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Three Forks, 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 Three Forks, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.6% White 94.4% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.9% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 1.2% Two or more races 2.5% 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 Three Forks 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
Three Forks (this city) 2,034 $80,394
Eureka 2,009 $43,750
East Missoula 2,072 $65,541
West Glendive 1,968 $57,743
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Three Forks, MT?

What is the population of Three Forks, MT? +

Three Forks, MT counts 2,034 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Three Forks, MT? +

In Three Forks, the typical household earns $80,394 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Three Forks? +

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

The median home value in Three Forks is $382,400, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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