City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Valier, MT

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

626
Residents
$44,432
Median income
$124,300
Median home
$1,254
Median rent (state)

Valier - the verdict

Valier ranks in the 12th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

12th
percentile, household income
19th
percentile, home value
41st
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: Valier, MT

Valier is a small town in Montana, home to 626 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Median household income here is $44,432 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 11.8%. Home values in Valier run a median of $124,300, and the median resident age is 51.6 years. Educational attainment runs 18.0% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 45.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 0 residential units were authorized in 2024 (No Permits). NOAA puts Valier's yearly average temperature at 44.1°F with 12.6 inches of precipitation per year.

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 $1,254 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Natural-hazard exposure scores 24.6 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

626 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$44,432 /yr

Poverty 11.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Valier compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 12% higher than other cities
Home value 19% pricier than other cities
Median rent 41% 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 Valier against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Valier toward the bottom of Montana's cities

Among the 279 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Valier ranks #233 - the 16th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Valier only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#226 of 282
20th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#229 of 317
25th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#233 of 279
16th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#94 of 315
70th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#202 of 317
36th 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.

12thIncome percentile

12th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Valier's home value compares nationally

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

$124,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 81% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $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. Valier $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 - Valier, MT Valier, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Valier, 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 Valier, MT median $44,432/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%
Valier, 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 Valier, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 18.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 11.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 45.2%

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

Population
626
Median Income
$44,432
Median Home Value
$124,300
Median Age
51.6
Poverty Rate
11.8%
Labor force participation
45.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
18.0%

Climate

Avg Temperature
44.1°F
Annual Precipitation
12.6"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
5
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
510 residents520 residents530 residents540 residents550 residents 202020212022202320242025 521 residents 537 residents ▲ +3.1%
Valier'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
71.4%
Carpool
6.8%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
10.3%
Work from Home
6.4%
Other
5.1%

Based on 234 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 Valier sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,254/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
24.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

South Hills
634 people
Ennis
615 people
Joliet
614 people
Pryor
639 people
Shepherd
613 people
Muddy
641 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Valier's 626 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Whitfield CDP (Santa Rosa County), FL
626 people
Fairland, IN
626 people
Canton, KS
626 people
Logan, KS
626 people
Ellendale, MN
626 people
Nesco, NJ
626 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Valier's $44,432 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Princeton, WV
$44,428 median income
Cumberland, IA
$44,427 median income
Riceville, TN
$44,440 median income
Trimountain, MI
$44,441 median income
Merriam, IN
$44,444 median income
Emerald Beach, MO
$44,444 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Valier, 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 Valier, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 75.2% 14.7% 8.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 3.7% White 75.2% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 1.6% American Indian 14.7% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 8.5% 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 Valier 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
Valier (this city) 626 $44,432
South Hills 634 $160,417
Ennis 615 $60,880
Joliet 614 $75,469
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Valier, MT?

What is the population of Valier, MT? +

626 people live in Valier, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Valier, the typical household earns $44,432 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Valier? +

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

The median home value in Valier is $124,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Valier? +

Climate normals put Valier's yearly average temperature at 44.1°F, 12.6 inches of precipitation. 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.