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Choteau vs Libby

161 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (4.3× in Libby) and property tax bill (+34% in Choteau).

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Choteau, MTHomes around $305KMontana · 1,479 people
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Libby, MTA regional job hubMontana · 3,042 people
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Where each one shines

Two towns, two different strengths

What each town does better than most of its state (not better than each other). Tap one to see the page behind it.

ChoteauHomes around $305K
Housing$305K typical home35% below the MT typical home SchoolsBetter than 74%of MT districts Outdoors23.9% conserved land0.3 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves All about Choteau →
LibbyA regional job hub
Work2,287 jobsbased in Libby, a regional job hub Schools#13 for schools in MTof 40 towns Outdoors#9 most conserved land in MT1.3 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves All about Libby →
The biggest differences

Where they part ways

The rows below where the towns are furthest apart, beyond the Census margin of error. The full table is further down.

Trails4.3×
Libby has more miles of trail
Libby 1.3 miChoteau 0.3 mi
Property tax bill+34%
Tax bills are bigger in Choteau
Choteau $1,914Libby $1,427
Jobs per worker2.1×
Libby is more of a job hub
Libby 1.93Choteau 0.94
Average commute8 min
Libby has the shorter commute
Choteau 17 minLibby 9 min
Work in town+15.1 pts
More of Libby’s workers stay in town
Libby 51%Choteau 35.9%
Bachelor’s degree++11.1 pts
More adults in Choteau have a degree
Choteau 30.5%Libby 19.4%
★ What stands out · Report cards

Grades and rankings, side by side

Our letter grades for safety, schools and health, then every Montana ranking list both towns are on. A grade is one measure; read the page behind it.

Safety
–ChoteauNot graded BLibbySafer than 57% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+ChoteauBetter than 74% of districts in the state B+LibbyBetter than 73% of districts in the state
Health
BChoteauHealthier than 56% of U.S. towns DLibbyHealthier than 13% of U.S. towns
Monthly cost

A typical home costs about the same each month

A typical home in each town, bought with 20% down at 6.3% for 30 years, plus property tax at the town’s own rate and insurance. Change the numbers to fit you.

Choteau$1,840/mo
Typical home $305K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.93% · or rent about $697/mo · Housing →
Libby$1,980/mo
Typical home $346K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.55% · or rent about $672/mo · Housing →

The difference: $140 a month, about $1,700 a year, between Libby and Choteau.

Estimates, not a quote: your price, rate, tax bill and insurance will differ. Tax rate = the Census median tax bill over the median home value.

Life in each

What daily life feels like in each

The weather, the land, the history and the people, row by row. None of it is a grade: more snow is a plus to a skier.

Seasons
ChoteauLibby
Snow a year48″48″
January low13°F22°F
July high82°F89°F
Growing season (days)104d120d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)65th63rd
Outdoors & history
ChoteauLibby
Trails0 mi1 mi
Conserved land23.9%19.2%
National Register places13
Archive photos7—
Famous people born here9—
Community
ChoteauLibby
Library hours a week40 hrs40 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined00

A dot marks the most on each row. Climate: NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the nearest station. Hazard risk: FEMA National Risk Index, expected yearly damage vs U.S. towns.

Where they are

161 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ChoteauMTLibbyMT
Choteau ↔ Libby161 miles apart
Everything, side by side

What matters to you?

Pick a few. Those rows jump to the top and the best fit on each is marked. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

ChoteauLibby
People
Population 1,479Lowest 3,042Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +2.2%Lowest MT: +9.6% +5.6%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 49.3±10.1Lowest 22% above MT 51±6.8Highest 26% above MT
Libby and Choteau are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 16.9%±4.9Lowest MT: 21% 17%±5.4Highest MT: 21%
Libby and Choteau are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 29.6%±4.6Lowest MT: 20.1% 31.8%±6.7Highest MT: 20.1%
Libby and Choteau are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 30.5%Highest MT: 35.2% 19.4%Lowest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.5%±1.5Lowest MT: 5.2% 4.5%±3Highest MT: 5.2%
Libby and Choteau are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $51,632±$19kHighest 29% below MT $34,143±$12kLowest 53% below MT
Choteau and Libby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $206,000±$32kLowest 45% below MT $257,400±$38kHighest 32% below MT
Libby and Choteau are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $697±$44Highest 36% below MT $672±$108Lowest 38% below MT
Choteau and Libby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,914Highest 29% below MT $1,427Lowest 47% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 54.5%±20.6Highest MT: 44.8% 53.8%±21.5Lowest MT: 44.8%
Choteau and Libby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 5.7%Lowest MT: 11.5% 24%Highest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 63.8%Highest MT: 69.2% 57%Lowest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1954Lowest 27 yrs older than MT 1959Highest 22 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 17 minHighest 9% below MT 9 minLowest 52% below MT
Work from home 8.6%±4.9Lowest MT: 12.5% 11.1%±9.5Highest MT: 12.5%
Libby and Choteau are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 35.9%Lowest 51%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 18.8 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.94Lowest 1.93Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Great Falls (7%)Kalispell (5%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in LibbyFew work in Choteau
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 23.9%Highest 19.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.3 miLowest 1.3 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.2 miLowest 0.7 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 3Lowest 5Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 126Highest 110Lowest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#13 of 40 in MT
School district Choteau Elem · Choteau H SLibby K-12 Schools
High school in town Choteau High SchoolLibby High School
Students per teacherat that high school 10.2Lowest 19.0Highest
Montana average“±” Census margin of errorACS 2020–2024
Deciding?

Ask the people who live there

The numbers stop at the town line. Neighbors can tell you about the commute at 7am, the schools, the winters and the feel of the place.

Choteau neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Choteau’s Town Square.

Libby neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Libby’s Town Square.

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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2010 & 2020 censuses, LEHD commute flows; Zillow Home Value Index; NCES Common Core of Data; FBI crime reporting; CDC PLACES; FEMA National Risk Index; NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020; USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. “±” is the Census margin of error; differences inside it are never called. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. There is no overall score: which town is better depends on what matters to you.

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