Dawson County, Montana Housing Market Prices
Dawson County Home Prices and Rent at a Glance
The median home price (often called the average home price), rent costs, affordability metrics, and housing stock characteristics for this housing market.
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Median home price 35% below the Montana median Cheaper than 72% of counties in Montana$161,632
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Median rent 25% below the Montana median$815
Median Home Price Map: Nearby Counties
Housing Market Overview
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $161,632 | $249,140 | $248,835 |
| Price Trend (Annual %) | 6.2% | 3.8% | 7.5% |
| Median Gross Rent | $815 | $1,081 | $1,407 |
| Rent Trend (Annual %) | 4.2% | 5.0% | 5.1% |
| Household Income Trend (Annual %) | — | — | — |
The median home price in Dawson County is about 35% lower than in Montana. Rent is about 25% lower than the Montana average.
Median Home and Rent Price Trends
Median Home Prices, 2016-2024
Median Rent Prices, 2015-2024
Both home prices and rent are rising in Dawson County, up about 6.2% and 4.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
Median rent in Dawson County rose about 47.0% between 2015 and 2024, from $554 to $815. Over the same span, rent in Montana rose about 52.0%.
Affordability
On average, housing unit costs 2.3 yearly household incomes in Dawson County.
Buying the median-priced home in Dawson County costs roughly 16.5 years of rent at the median monthly rate. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Dawson County. The price-to-rent ratio in Montana is about 19.2.
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Price | $161,632 | $249,140 | $248,835 |
| Median Household Income | $68,912 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Price-to-Income Ratio | 2.3 | 3.4 | 3.1 |
Home Prices vs Income Over Time
Between 2016 and 2024, the median home price in Dawson County rose about 16.7%, while median household income rose about 33.1% between 2009 and 2025 — income grew faster than the home price.
Income Growth vs Housing Cost Growth (Year-over-Year %)
Compare income and housing cost trends.
Occupancy & Tenure
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homeownership Rate | 59.3% | 60.1% | 58.5% |
| Rental Rate | 23.2% | 26.8% | 31.2% |
| Vacancy Rate | 17.5% | 13.2% | 10.2% |
| Median Tenure (years) | 16.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Median Year Moved In | 2010 | 2011 | 2011 |
Dawson County has a homeownership rate of 59.3%, lower than the Montana average of 60.1%. Its housing vacancy rate is 17.5%, compared with 13.2% in Montana.
Housing Stock
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Household Size | 2.33 people | 2.37 people | 2.53 people |
| Median Structure Built Year | 1963 | 1981 | 1978 |
| Median Number of Rooms | 6.0 | 5.6 | 5.5 |
The typical housing unit in Dawson County was built around 1963. On average, 2.3 people live in a home with about 6.0 rooms, staying for about 16.0 years on average.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the housing market in Dawson County, Montana.
What is the median home price in Dawson County, Montana?
The median home price in Dawson County, Montana is $161,632, lower than the Montana average of $249,140.
What is the average home price in Dawson County, Montana?
The typical home price in Dawson County, Montana, reported as the median sale price, is $161,632. The median is used instead of a mathematical average because it is not skewed by a small number of very expensive or very cheap homes, so it better reflects what a typical buyer pays.
What is the median rent in Dawson County, Montana?
The median gross rent in Dawson County, Montana is $815 per month, lower than the Montana average of $1,081.
What was the median gross rent in Dawson County in 2020?
In 2020, the median gross rent in Dawson County, Montana was $751 per month.
What is the price-to-rent ratio in Dawson County, Montana?
The price-to-rent ratio in Dawson County, Montana is about 16.5, meaning it would take roughly 16.5 years of rent payments at the median rent to equal the median home price. That is a moderate price-to-rent ratio, where buying and renting are often similarly cost-effective in Dawson County.
Are home prices or rent rising faster in Dawson County, Montana?
Both home prices and rent are rising in Dawson County, up about 6.2% and 4.2% a year respectively. Home prices are changing faster.
What is the homeownership rate in Dawson County, Montana?
59.3% of households in Dawson County, Montana own their home, lower than the Montana average of 60.1%.
What is the vacancy rate in Dawson County, Montana?
The housing vacancy rate in Dawson County, Montana is 17.5%, higher than the Montana average of 13.2%.
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