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Butte

Butte, MT

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Demographics

Predominantly WhiteSimpson's Diversity Index: 29
Population1,105,072
Foreign Born1.0%
Population Density8people per mi²
Median Age40.2 yrs
Demographics Trajectory
GrowingSince 2000, this city's population has grown with relatively minor shifts in racial composition.
Current Race / Ethnicity Breakdown
Population Trends

Quality of Life

Overall Quality Of Life
B+
Good

Above-average quality of iife. The area offers a reasonable cost of living, decent mobility, and a mix of neighborhood amenities.

Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.

Cost of Living

101/100

1% above national average

A

The Real Cost of Living in Butte, Montana

TierIndividualFamily (4)
Survival $16k$31k
Comfortable $66k$97k
Luxury $126k+$196k+
Elite (Top 5%) $153k+$237k+
Affordability Ratio

72%

The Hood Index™

A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.

A
Hood Index scan area
Luxury Lean86%
RisksNeutralGrowth
Premium
40
Positive
40
Poor
3
Negative
12

Groceries

5 within 10 miles

0.4mi

Gas

0 within 10 miles

Hospital

3 within 20 miles

0.6mi

Airport

Butte Aero Heliport

3.5mi

Post Office

USPS — Butte, MT

1.4mi

Critical Amenities

Country Clubs

1 private club within 10 miles.

Golf3Nearest 0.5 mi
Camping20Nearest 26.6 mi
Marina0 
Winery0 
Ice Rink1Nearest 1.1 mi
Gun Range3Nearest 0.7 mi

Affluence Level

Overall Affluence Grade
C
Average

A middle-class area roughly in line with national averages across income, home values, education, and employment.

Median HHI
$70k+5.4%
7% below US avg
Est. Avg Net Worth
$637k
3% below US avg
College Educated
34.5%
1% below US avg
WFH
11.6%
19% below US avg
Homeownership
69.4%
6% above US avg
Median Home
$338k
20% above US avg

Crime

Overall Crime Grade
B-
Safe

Generally safer than 57% of comparable U.S. locations.

Crime Rate
18.5
Incidents per 1,000 residents
5yr Trend
−21.7%
Overall crime change since 2020

Violent Crime

5yr−14.2%
Homicide
0.03 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Robbery
0.18 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Aggravated Assault
3.25 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg

Property Crime

5yr−29.3%
Burglary
1.30 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Larceny-Theft
11.66 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Motor Vehicle Theft
1.34 / 1k ResidentsEqual to state avg
Source: FBI Crime Data · 2025

Political Climate

Cook PVI: R+5Leans Conservative

District shown is the primary district for this city’s centroid. Cities may span multiple districts.

Presidential Voting Trends for Butte, Montana
Dem Rep
30%40%50%60%2000200420082012201620202024

Personal Sovereignty

Personal Sovereignty measures your capacity for self-reliance and independence with minimal government friction. Higher scores mean fewer barriers between you and the way you want to live... but it assumes you have the space you need and good neighbors.

Overall Sovereignty Grade
B+
Self-Reliant

Viable for self-reliance. Generally workable, though some barriers may limit total independence.

State Policy

Tax Burden
C-
Weak10.5% of income
Property Rights
C-
FairIJ Grade C-
Firearm Rights
A
GreatFPC Grade A
Homeschooling
A-
GoodLow regulation

Energy independence: Net exporter (120% of energy produced in-state)

Personal Liberty

Raw Milk
A-
OpenFarm sales legal
Gambling Laws
B
Broadly OpenTribal · Poker · Sportsbetting
Marijuana Laws
A+
Fully LegalRecreational

Homesteading

Growing Season107 days159 frost-free
Annual Rainfall16.2"
Elevation5,541 ft

Strategic Assessment

Strategic Assessment grades tactical survivability using Joel Skousen's Strategic Relocation framework. Major population centers, blast zones, natural disasters, and border exposure all drive risk — lower exposure means a more defensible position in a crisis.

Learn more about Strategic Relocation ($)
Overall Strategic Grade
A-
Resilient

Strong survivability profile. Good buffer from population centers, with manageable environmental and tactical risks.

Strategic Pillars

City Proximity
A+
Great879 mi to nearest major city
Pop. Density
A+
Great7.6/sq mi
Fallout Danger
D-
Poor2 within ~30 mi
Natural Disaster
B
FairCold Wave
Border / Coast
A+
Greatborder 207 mi · coast 482 mi
FEMA Expected Loss$14.4M/yrfor the county

Key Distances

Nearest Major CitySeattle737k people are 476 mi away
Nearest Major AirportNo hub airport within 50 mi
Distance to State Capital47 miHelena, MT
Nearest Prison5.1 mi2 within 25 mi

* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-04-19T06:54:02.000Z

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