City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Townsend, MT

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

2,232
Residents
$70,774
Median income
$212,800
Median home
$1,748
Median rent (state)

Townsend - the verdict

Nationally, Townsend sits in the 50th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

50th
percentile, household income
46th
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: Townsend, MT

Townsend is a small town in Montana, home to 2,232 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $70,774 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 10.0%. Townsend's housing stock carries a median value of $212,800, and the median resident age is 47.6 years. Educational attainment runs 18.2% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 57.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 11 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Low Activity). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 44.9°F with 10.6 inches of precipitation per year and 23.7 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 $1,748 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 17.7 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

2,232 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$70,774 /yr

Poverty 10.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Townsend compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 50% higher than other cities
Home value 46% 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

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 Townsend'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.

50thIncome percentile

50th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Townsend's home value compares nationally

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

$212,800 Among the most affordable more affordable than 54% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Townsend $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 - Townsend, MT Townsend, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT median $70,774/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%
Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.2%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 10.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 57.4%

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

Population
2,232
Median Income
$70,774
Median Home Value
$212,800
Median Age
47.6
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Labor force participation
57.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.2%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.9°F
Annual Precipitation
10.6"
Annual Snowfall
23.7"

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 →
1,600 residents1,800 residents2,000 residents2,200 residents2,400 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,828 residents 2,272 residents ▲ +24.3%
Townsend's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Low Activity
Total Permits (2024)
11
housing units authorized
Single-Family
11
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
4.9
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 0
2022 0
2023 2
2024 11

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
77.0%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.3%
Work from Home
11.1%
Other
3.1%

Based on 1,075 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 Townsend 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

Stevensville
2,172 people
Colstrip
2,156 people
Manhattan
2,149 people
King Arthur Park
2,343 people
Crow Agency
2,110 people
Big Sky
2,388 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Townsend's 2,232 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Kellogg, ID
2,232 people
Camanche, CA
2,233 people
Detroit Beach, MI
2,231 people
Ogdensburg, NJ
2,231 people
Memphis, TX
2,231 people
Star City, AR
2,234 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Townsend's $70,774 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Hanna City, IL
$70,774 median income
Hillside, IL
$70,772 median income
Rustburg, VA
$70,771 median income
Huntsville, AL
$70,778 median income
New Cordell, OK
$70,780 median income
Jefferson, NY
$70,781 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Townsend, 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 Townsend, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.4% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.2% White 89.4% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 1.4% American Indian 3.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 5.2% 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 Townsend 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
Townsend (this city) 2,232 $70,774
Stevensville 2,172 $52,745
Colstrip 2,156 $86,000
Manhattan 2,149 $69,671
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Townsend, MT?

What is the population of Townsend, MT? +

2,232 people live in Townsend, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Townsend households earn a median of $70,774 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Townsend? +

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

A typical home in Townsend is worth $212,800, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Townsend? +

Climate normals put Townsend's yearly average temperature at 44.9°F, 10.6 inches of precipitation, and 23.7 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 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.