Beaverhead County

Beaverhead County is located in southwestern Montana along the Idaho border, covering a large, predominantly rural area of intermountain basins and mountain ranges. Created in 1865 and named for the Beaverhead Rock landmark, the county has long been associated with transportation corridors, ranching, and mining in the northern Rocky Mountain region. It is one of Montana’s least populous counties, with a small population of roughly 9,000–10,000 residents, spread across extensive public lands and agricultural valleys. The landscape includes sagebrush steppe, river systems such as the Beaverhead River, and nearby high-elevation terrain associated with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. The local economy is centered on livestock agriculture, outdoor recreation, and public-sector employment, with additional activity tied to tourism and regional services. The county seat and largest community is Dillon, which functions as the primary commercial and cultural hub.

Beaverhead County is located in far southwestern Montana along the Idaho border and includes the city of Dillon, serving as a regional center for surrounding rural communities. The county contains large areas of public land and mountainous terrain, including portions of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Beaverhead County, Montana), Beaverhead County had:

• Population (2020): 9,453
• Population (2023 estimate): 9,377

Age & Gender

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (latest profile values shown on that page):

• Age distribution (percent of total population)
  • Under 18 years: 18.6%
  • 65 years and over: 18.5%
• Gender
  • Female persons: 46.8%

Racial & Ethnic Composition

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (percent of total population):

• Race
  • White alone: 93.8%
  • Black or African American alone: 0.4%
  • American Indian and Alaska Native alone: 1.7%
  • Asian alone: 0.9%
  • Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone: 0.1%
  • Two or more races: 3.1%
• Ethnicity
  • Hispanic or Latino (of any race): 2.0%

Household & Housing Data

According to U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts:

• Households (2019–2023): 3,633
• Persons per household (2019–2023): 2.39
• Owner-occupied housing unit rate (2019–2023): 70.8%
• Median value of owner-occupied housing units (2019–2023, in current dollars): $350,700
• Median gross rent (2019–2023, in current dollars): $1,005

For local government and planning resources, visit the Beaverhead County official website.

Beaverhead County’s large land area, rugged terrain, and low population density shape digital communication by increasing last‑mile network costs and contributing to uneven service coverage. Direct county-level email usage statistics are not typically published; email adoption is therefore summarized using proxy indicators such as household broadband and computer access plus age structure.

Digital access indicators from the U.S. Census Bureau (data.census.gov) show Beaverhead County’s rates of household broadband subscription and computer ownership, which are closely associated with routine email use. Age composition from the same source is relevant because older age groups generally have lower adoption of some online communication tools, while working-age and college-age residents tend to sustain higher email use for employment, education, and services. Gender distribution is available via Census profiles; it is usually a weaker predictor of email use than age and connectivity.

Connectivity constraints are reflected in federal broadband availability and funding datasets and local reporting, including the FCC National Broadband Map, which documents service availability variability across rural census blocks.

Beaverhead County is in southwest Montana and includes the city of Dillon along with extensive rural areas, public lands, and mountain valleys (including portions of the Beaverhead–Deerlodge National Forest). The county’s large geographic size, rugged terrain, and low population density are core factors shaping mobile connectivity: coverage is typically strongest near population centers and major highways, and more variable in mountainous or remote areas.

Data scope and limitations (county-level vs statewide)

County-specific statistics for “mobile phone penetration,” smartphone ownership, and mobile-internet use are often not published at the county level in official federal surveys. The most consistent county-resolvable public data relate to network availability (where service is offered) rather than adoption (whether households subscribe or own smartphones). Where only statewide adoption metrics exist, they describe Montana overall rather than Beaverhead County specifically.

Network availability (coverage) vs household adoption (use)

Network availability refers to whether mobile networks (LTE/4G or 5G) are reported as available in locations within Beaverhead County.
Household adoption refers to whether residents actually subscribe to mobile service, use mobile broadband, or rely on smartphones for internet access.

These two measures can diverge in rural counties: service may be technically available in parts of the county while adoption varies with income, age, and the practicality of service in specific terrain.

Mobile penetration or access indicators (where available)

At the county level, “mobile penetration” is most directly represented by:

• Mobile service availability maps (coverage claims and modeled availability)
• Broadband subscription indicators (often reported for “fixed broadband” and sometimes for cellular-only households, usually at state or tract level rather than county summaries)

Key official sources used for access indicators include:

• The U.S. Census Bureau for household technology and internet subscription concepts, including “cellular data plan” and “smartphone-only” access (most commonly available at national/state levels, with some tract-level tables depending on product): Census.gov computer and internet use.
• The FCC for broadband availability datasets and maps (provider-reported, location-based availability; useful for distinguishing LTE/5G availability footprints): FCC National Broadband Map.
• Montana’s statewide broadband program resources for planning context and aggregation of availability and adoption indicators (primarily statewide or multi-county planning materials): Montana ConnectMT (state broadband office).

Limitation: A single published “mobile penetration rate” specific to Beaverhead County is not consistently available from these sources as a county headline metric. County-level insight is typically derived from maps (availability) and from broader demographic data.

Mobile internet usage patterns (4G, 5G availability)

4G/LTE

• LTE is generally the baseline mobile broadband technology across rural Montana counties, including Beaverhead County, with the strongest continuity expected along primary travel corridors and around Dillon.
• The most authoritative public way to verify LTE availability by location in the county is through the FCC’s location-based map layers: FCC National Broadband Map (mobile broadband layers).

Availability vs adoption: LTE availability indicates the network can be accessed in mapped areas; it does not indicate that all households subscribe, that signal quality is consistent indoors, or that performance is uniform in mountainous terrain.

5G

• 5G availability in rural counties often appears as localized coverage (towns, highway segments) rather than uniform countywide coverage.
• County-specific 5G presence is best represented through the FCC map’s mobile broadband technology filters, which allow checking reported 5G availability at specific locations: FCC National Broadband Map (5G availability).

Limitation: Public datasets do not provide a definitive countywide “percent of residents using 5G” for Beaverhead County. The standard public evidence is network availability, not measured usage.

Common device types (smartphones vs other devices)

At the county level, official device-type splits (smartphone vs basic phone vs hotspot vs tablet) are limited. The most commonly cited public indicators are:

• Smartphone ownership and device reliance reported at national/state scales through federal surveys (e.g., Census technology/internet measures and other national survey programs). These describe Montana overall rather than Beaverhead County specifically: Census.gov computer and internet use.
• Smartphone-only (mobile-only) internet access is a commonly tracked concept in survey data, but county-specific estimates are not consistently published as a standard table for all counties.

What can be stated without overreach: Smartphones are the dominant endpoint for mobile broadband in U.S. consumer use generally; however, a quantified Beaverhead County device mix (percent smartphone vs other) is not available as a routinely published county statistic in official datasets.

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Beaverhead County

Geography and terrain (connectivity constraints)

• Mountainous topography and extensive rural areas increase the likelihood of coverage variability, particularly away from towers and in valleys with line-of-sight limitations.
• Distance between settlements raises the per-user infrastructure cost and often results in coverage concentrated near towns and highways rather than uniform area coverage.
• Public lands and sparsely populated regions can correspond to fewer network sites and more “edge-of-coverage” areas.

These factors primarily affect availability and quality (signal strength, indoor reception, consistency), which in turn can affect adoption where service is perceived as unreliable.

Population distribution and local service demand

• Dillon serves as the main population center and is the most likely area for denser network infrastructure and more consistent mobile broadband performance compared with remote areas of the county.
• Outside Dillon, settlement patterns are dispersed, and typical usage may rely on mobile service for travel and worksite connectivity rather than dense urban-style capacity.

Age, income, and household composition (adoption drivers)

County-level demographic structure can influence adoption patterns (smartphone-only use, reliance on prepaid plans, or preference for fixed connections where available). Official demographic profiles are available from:

• Census QuickFacts for Beaverhead County, Montana

Limitation: While demographic context is available at the county level, direct cross-tabulations linking Beaverhead County demographics to mobile adoption (e.g., “smartphone-only households by age group in the county”) are not typically released as standard county tables.

Clear distinction: what is known reliably

• Network availability (reliably assessed): Location-based LTE/5G availability as reported in FCC broadband map layers: FCC National Broadband Map.
• Household adoption (limited at county level): General concepts and statewide statistics exist through federal surveys, but county-specific smartphone ownership and mobile-internet adoption are not consistently published as definitive Beaverhead County metrics in standard public releases: Census.gov computer and internet use.
• Local context (reliably described): Rurality, mountainous terrain, and low population density—documented through Census county profiles and land/settlement characteristics—are well-established determinants of variable mobile coverage and usage reliance: Census QuickFacts for Beaverhead County, and county context sources such as Beaverhead County’s official website.

Beaverhead County is a large, sparsely populated county in southwest Montana, anchored by Dillon (home to the University of Montana Western) and shaped by ranching, outdoor recreation, and travel corridors along I‑15 and nearby public lands. Its rural geography and long travel distances tend to reinforce the practical value of mobile connectivity for local news, school and community updates, and event coordination, while also reflecting Montana’s broader patterns of internet and smartphone adoption.

User statistics (penetration / active use)

• County-specific social media penetration: No major public dataset (Pew, U.S. Census products, or platform transparency reports) publishes social-media “active user” estimates at the county level for Beaverhead County in a way that is consistently comparable across platforms and years.
• Best available benchmark (U.S. adults): Nationally, 69% of U.S. adults report using at least one social media site (Pew Research Center). This is the most commonly cited baseline for “social media penetration” in the absence of county-level measurement. Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.
• Related access context (internet/smartphone): Social media participation closely tracks broadband and smartphone access; Pew tracks U.S. smartphone adoption and related digital access indicators that are relevant for rural areas. Source: Pew Research Center mobile fact sheet.

Age group trends (who uses social media most)

Using Pew’s U.S. adult benchmarks (commonly used to describe age gradients where local breakdowns are unavailable):

• Highest overall social media use: Adults ages 18–29 (highest share using social media).
• Next highest: Ages 30–49.
• Lower but still substantial: Ages 50–64.
• Lowest: Ages 65+, though adoption has risen over time. Source (age-by-age social media use and platform profiles): Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Gender breakdown

• Overall use by gender: Pew reports men and women use social media at broadly similar rates overall, with clearer differences emerging by platform rather than by “any social media” usage.
• Platform-typical differences (U.S. adults): Some platforms skew more female (notably Pinterest), while others skew more male (patterns vary by platform and change over time). Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Most-used platforms (percent using each platform)

County-specific platform shares are not published in standard public sources; the most reliable available percentages are U.S.-level adult usage (Pew). Reported U.S. adult usage levels commonly cited by Pew include:

• YouTube: ~83%
• Facebook: ~68%
• Instagram: ~47%
• Pinterest: ~35%
• TikTok: ~33%
• LinkedIn: ~30%
• X (Twitter): ~22%
• Snapchat: ~27%
• WhatsApp: ~29% (Percentages reflect Pew’s most recent reported adult shares in its fact sheet; platform definitions and survey timing are documented by Pew.) Source: Pew Research Center social media fact sheet.

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns and preferences)

• Local-community orientation: In rural counties, social media use tends to emphasize community information utility (school announcements, local events, weather and road conditions, small-business updates). This aligns with Facebook’s continued role in local groups and community pages nationally (Pew documents Facebook’s broad reach and demographics). Source: Pew platform reach and demographics.
• Video as a primary content format: YouTube’s very high penetration nationally supports a pattern where how-to content, local interest clips, sports highlights, and news video are major engagement drivers. Source: Pew platform usage comparisons.
• Age-linked platform preferences:
  • Younger adults: Higher concentration on Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat (more messaging/short-form video and creator-driven discovery).
  • Older adults: More reliance on Facebook for updates and group coordination. Source: Pew platform demographics by age.
• Messaging and “lightweight” engagement: Pew finds many users engage with platforms for keeping in touch and consuming news/entertainment, with interaction often expressed as likes, shares, and short comments rather than long-form posting; platform design has shifted toward feeds and video. Source: Pew’s synthesis of usage patterns in its social media fact sheet.

Beaverhead County family and associate-related public records include vital records and court records. Birth and death certificates are Montana vital records maintained at the state level through Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Vital Records; Beaverhead County provides local access to some services through the Beaverhead County Clerk & Recorder office. Adoption records are generally handled through Montana courts and state agencies and are typically not public.

Publicly accessible databases in Beaverhead County center on property and recording indexes rather than vital events. The Clerk & Recorder maintains recorded documents affecting family and associates (marriage certificates where recorded, deeds, mortgages, liens, plats, and other filings) and commonly provides index-based lookup through the Clerk & Recorder. Court filings that may reference family or associates (civil cases, some probate activity) are administered by the Montana Judicial Branch; statewide court access and docket lookup are provided via the Montana Judicial Branch.

Access occurs online through official state portals and county webpages where available, and in person at Beaverhead County offices in Dillon for recorded documents and local administrative services. Privacy restrictions apply to vital records (birth and death certificates) and adoption files, which are subject to identity/relationship-based access rules and confidentiality provisions under Montana law.

Types of records available

• Marriage licenses and marriage certificates/returns
  • Marriage records in Beaverhead County generally include the marriage license issued by the county and the marriage return/certificate completed after the ceremony and filed back with the county to document that the marriage occurred.
• Divorce decrees and related court orders
  • Divorce records are maintained as district court case files, typically including the final decree of dissolution of marriage and may include associated orders (e.g., parenting plan, child support, maintenance, property distribution).
• Annulments (decrees declaring a marriage invalid)
  • Annulments are also maintained as district court case files and commonly result in a decree of invalidity or similar final judgment.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

• Marriage records (county-level filing)
  • Marriage licenses and recorded marriage returns are filed with the Beaverhead County Clerk of Court / Recorder (the county office that issues and records marriage licenses and maintains county vital/recording functions).
  • Access is typically provided through in-person requests at the county office and written requests submitted according to county procedures. Some counties provide limited indexing or request instructions online.
  • Official county information is available through Beaverhead County’s website: https://beaverheadcountymt.gov/
• Divorce and annulment records (court-level filing)
  • Divorce and annulment records are filed in the Beaverhead County District Court (Montana’s district courts are the trial courts of general jurisdiction handling dissolutions and annulments).
  • Access is typically through the Clerk of District Court by:
    • Requesting copies of the final decree (and, where permitted, other documents in the case file) in person or by written request.
    • Using Montana’s statewide court case information portal for basic docket/case lookup where available (coverage and document availability vary): https://courts.mt.gov/External/
• State-level vital records (certificate copies and verification)
  • Montana maintains statewide vital records through the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), Vital Records. The state may provide certified copies or verification for certain vital records according to state law and policy: https://dphhs.mt.gov/vitalrecords

Typical information included in these records

• Marriage license / marriage record
  • Names of the parties (including prior names where recorded)
  • Date and place of marriage (county/city or venue information as recorded)
  • Ages and/or dates of birth (as captured on the application)
  • Residences and/or addresses (as recorded)
  • Officiant name and authority, and date performed (on the return)
  • Witness information (when recorded)
  • License number, issuance date, and filing/recording details
• Divorce decree (dissolution)
  • Caption identifying the court, county, parties, and case number
  • Date of filing and date of judgment/decree
  • Findings and orders dissolving the marriage
  • Disposition terms such as division of property and debts, restoration of a former name (when granted), and allocation of fees/costs
  • For cases involving children: parenting plan approval, legal custody/parenting schedule, child support terms, and related determinations
• Annulment decree (invalidity)
  • Caption identifying the court, county, parties, and case number
  • Judgment declaring the marriage invalid and related findings
  • Related orders addressing property, support, and parenting issues when applicable

Privacy or legal restrictions

• Public access with limits
  • Montana court records are generally public, but access can be restricted by law, court rule, or court order. Certain filings or information may be confidential or sealed, and clerks may provide redacted copies when required.
• Confidential information commonly restricted
  • Documents and data involving minors, certain family law evaluations, and information protected by privacy statutes or court rules may be restricted.
  • Personal identifiers (e.g., Social Security numbers, financial account numbers) are commonly subject to redaction requirements in court filings and copies provided to the public.
• Vital records access controls
  • Certified copies of vital records issued by the state are subject to eligibility and identification requirements set by Montana Vital Records. County marriage records may also be subject to administrative controls on certified-copy issuance, even when basic index information is publicly inspectable.
• Record-sealing and protected addresses
  • Courts may restrict access to specific documents or addresses (for example, in cases involving safety concerns) through protective orders and confidentiality provisions recognized under Montana law and court practice.

Beaverhead County is in southwest Montana along the Idaho border, anchored by Dillon (the county seat) and smaller communities such as Lima and Wisdom. It is a large, rural county with a relatively small population (about 9,000–10,000 residents in recent estimates) and a low population density, with community life shaped by ranching/agriculture, public lands/outdoor recreation, and education and healthcare employers in Dillon. (Population context: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Beaverhead County.)

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Beaverhead County’s K–12 public education is primarily served by Beaverhead County High School and the elementary/middle grades in Dillon, plus smaller rural schools in outlying communities. A consolidated, countywide list of “number of public schools” varies by source and year due to district configurations and small rural schools; the most consistently referenced public school names in the county include:

• Beaverhead County High School (Dillon)
• Dillon Middle School (Dillon)
• Dillon Elementary School (Dillon)
• Lima School (Lima) (commonly operated as a K–12 program in a small-school setting)

School listings and district information are available through the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) and the county’s district/school pages.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

• Student–teacher ratios: District-level student–teacher ratios are published in Montana’s OPI reporting and typically vary substantially across Beaverhead County because Dillon schools operate at larger scale than rural programs. A single countywide ratio is not consistently reported as a standalone metric across all sources; OPI district profiles are the best authoritative reference (proxy note: rural Montana districts commonly report lower ratios than urban districts due to small enrollments).
• Graduation rates: Four-year graduation rates are reported by OPI at the high-school/district level rather than as a single countywide “one number” in many public dashboards. Beaverhead County High School’s graduation rate is generally in line with or above Montana’s statewide rate in recent years, but the exact most-recent figure should be taken from the current OPI graduation report for the applicable cohort year. (Source framework: Montana OPI graduation and dropout statistics.)

Adult educational attainment

From the most recent widely used county profiles (Census/ACS via QuickFacts):

• High school diploma or higher (age 25+): approximately 90%+
• Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): approximately 25%–30% These figures reflect a rural county with a meaningful share of college-educated residents (influenced by higher education employment and professional services in Dillon) alongside trades, agriculture, and service work. (Source: QuickFacts (ACS-based).)

Notable programs (STEM, vocational, AP/dual credit)

• Career and Technical Education (CTE): Montana districts commonly provide CTE pathways (skilled trades, agriculture, business/industry-aligned coursework) supported by OPI CTE standards and local partnerships; specific offerings vary by school and year and are documented in district course catalogs and OPI program reporting. (Program context: Montana OPI Career & Technical Education.)
• Advanced Placement / dual credit: AP availability and participation can be limited in small rural settings; dual-credit opportunities are often more common via Montana’s postsecondary partners. Dillon’s proximity to University of Montana Western supports local dual-enrollment and teacher preparation linkages. (Institutional context: University of Montana Western.)
• STEM: STEM offerings are typically embedded in standard science/math sequences and elective courses; smaller schools may rely on combined classes and distance-learning options when enrollment is limited (proxy note based on common rural Montana delivery models; school-specific STEM course lists are district-published).

School safety measures and counseling resources

• Safety measures: Montana public schools generally implement building access controls, visitor procedures, emergency operations plans, drills, and coordination with local law enforcement and county emergency services. District-specific safety plans are commonly summarized in board policies and student handbooks rather than aggregated as a county metric.
• Counseling resources: School counseling is typically provided through licensed school counselors and student support teams; rural staffing constraints can affect counselor-to-student coverage, with additional supports often accessed through regional mental health providers and telehealth options. Montana’s school mental health and counseling frameworks are administered through OPI guidance and local district staffing (policy context: OPI School Climate and Student Wellness).

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment (most recent year available)

The most recent official county unemployment statistics are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Montana Department of Labor & Industry (LAUS program). Beaverhead County typically posts low-to-moderate unemployment with seasonal variation tied to tourism/recreation and construction.

• Authoritative source: BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Montana DLI Labor Market Information.
  (County unemployment is best cited from the latest annual average or most recent monthly reading in those systems; a single number is not consistently stable due to small labor force size.)

Major industries and employment sectors

Beaverhead County employment is concentrated in:

• Government and education (public schools, county/city services; higher education in Dillon)
• Healthcare and social assistance
• Retail and accommodation/food services (including travel-related spending)
• Agriculture and ranching (cattle and hay/forage are prominent in the region)
• Construction and skilled trades
• Transportation/warehousing and local services supporting rural operations
  Sector composition is reflected in county industry tables from Census/ACS and state LMI products. (Context source: QuickFacts and Montana DLI LMI.)

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Common occupational groups in rural Montana counties with a Dillon-centered service hub include:

• Management, business, and financial operations (public administration, education administration, ranch operations)
• Education, training, and library (K–12 and university-related)
• Healthcare practitioners and support
• Office/administrative support
• Sales and related
• Construction and extraction; installation/maintenance/repair
• Transportation and material moving
• Farming, fishing, and forestry (smaller share of total jobs than land area suggests, but locally significant)
  (Occupational distributions are available in ACS “occupation by industry” tables; county-level detail can be extracted via data.census.gov.)

Commuting patterns and mean commute time

• Typical commuting: Many residents commute within the Dillon area, while others travel longer distances for ranching/agricultural operations, public-land-related work, or jobs along the I‑15 corridor. Winter weather and long rural distances are a practical factor in commute conditions.
• Mean commute time: The county’s average commute time is generally in the ~15–25 minute range in recent ACS profiles, consistent with a small hub town plus rural residences. (Source: ACS commuting measures accessible via QuickFacts and detailed tables at data.census.gov.)

Local employment vs. out-of-county work

A substantial share of workers are employed within Beaverhead County (Dillon as the primary employment center), with additional out-of-county commuting occurring for specialized trades, resource-related work, and jobs in other southwest Montana counties. The most direct measure is the Census “county-to-county commuting/LODES” style data rather than ACS alone. (Reference datasets: Census LEHD/LODES.)

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership and rental share

• Homeownership: Beaverhead County is predominantly owner-occupied, with homeownership commonly around two-thirds of occupied units (typical for rural Montana counties; exact current share is reported in ACS housing tables).
• Renting: The remainder (roughly one-third) is renter-occupied, with rental demand influenced by education/healthcare employment and student/seasonal worker housing needs in Dillon.
  (Primary source: QuickFacts housing.)

Median property values and recent trends

• Median owner-occupied home value: Recent ACS profiles place the county’s median value generally in the mid-$300,000s to low-$400,000s range (exact value varies by 1-year vs 5-year ACS and the reference year).
• Trend: Values increased markedly from 2020–2024 across Montana due to in-migration, limited inventory, and higher construction costs; Beaverhead County followed this broader trend, with Dillon-area neighborhoods typically pricing higher than remote rural locations.
  (County-level value series: ACS on data.census.gov; market trend context: Montana Department of Commerce Housing.)

Typical rent prices

• Gross rent (median): Recent ACS medians for gross rent in Beaverhead County are commonly around $900–$1,200 per month, varying with unit type, utilities included, and Dillon vs. outlying communities.
  (Source: ACS gross rent tables via data.census.gov.)

Housing types

• Single-family homes dominate in Dillon and rural areas.
• Manufactured homes are present in rural and edge-of-town settings.
• Small multifamily/apartments are concentrated in Dillon, often serving workforce and student renters.
• Rural lots and ranchettes are common outside town, with well/septic considerations and longer travel times to services.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools/amenities)

• Dillon: The most walkable access to K–12 schools, grocery, healthcare, and civic services is within Dillon’s residential neighborhoods; these areas typically have smaller lots, grid streets, and shorter commutes.
• Outlying communities and rural areas (e.g., Lima, Wisdom): Greater separation from services and schools, larger lots, and more reliance on driving; access to amenities is more limited and often oriented to local community facilities and highway corridors.

Property taxes (rate and typical homeowner cost)

Montana property taxes are levied as mills applied to taxable value, with rates varying by local jurisdictions and school levies. Beaverhead County homeowners typically face:

• Effective property tax rates often around ~0.7%–1.1% of market value as a broad Montana rural-county proxy (rates vary materially by taxing district, exemptions, and levy changes).
• Typical annual tax bills commonly in the low-to-mid thousands of dollars for median-value homes, varying by location and applicable levies.
  (Administration and methodology: Montana Department of Revenue property tax overview and county billing details via Beaverhead County.)

Note on data availability: Several education and labor metrics are reported at the district, school, or monthly series level (rather than as a single countywide figure), and the most defensible “most recent” values come from the linked OPI, BLS, and Montana DLI reporting portals; where a single county figure is not consistently published, this summary uses statewide/rural Montana structural proxies and identifies the authoritative reporting systems.