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Compare towns

Colstrip vs Big Timber

160 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (24.5× in Colstrip) and street grid (3.7× in Big Timber).

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Colstrip, MTOne of the safest townsMontana · 2,101 people
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Big Timber, MTA history townMontana · 1,611 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.

ColstripOne of the safest towns
SafetySafer than 98%of U.S. towns we grade Housing$239K typical home49% below the MT typical home SchoolsBetter than 24%of MT districts All about Colstrip →
Big TimberA history town
History15 archive photos & papers4 places on the National Register HealthHealthier than 71%of U.S. towns on CDC estimates Outdoors17.4% conserved land0.4 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves All about Big Timber →
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.

Trails24.5×
Colstrip has more miles of trail
Colstrip 9.8 miBig Timber 0.4 mi
Street grid3.7×
Big Timber has the more walkable street grid
Big Timber 125Colstrip 33.8
Rent+68%
Rent runs higher in Big Timber
Big Timber $1,109Colstrip $659
Home values+43%
Homes cost more in Big Timber
Big Timber $278,200Colstrip $194,900
Age 65++15.6 pts
Big Timber has more people 65 and up
Big Timber 29.1%Colstrip 13.5%
Average commute8 min
Colstrip has the shorter commute
Big Timber 19 minColstrip 11 min
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,180 more a month in Big Timber

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.

Colstrip$1,360/mo
Typical home $239K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.56% · or rent about $659/mo · Housing →
Big Timber$2,540/mo
Typical home $449K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.52% · or rent about $1,109/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,180 a month, about $14,200 a year, between Big Timber and Colstrip.

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.

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
A+ColstripSafer than 98% of U.S. towns –Big TimberNot graded
Schools
C−ColstripBetter than 24% of districts in the state B−Big TimberBetter than 52% of districts in the state
Health
B+ColstripHealthier than 71% of U.S. towns B+Big TimberHealthier than 71% of U.S. towns
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
ColstripBig Timber
Snow a year37″55″
January low14°F20°F
July high85°F86°F
Growing season (days)138d133d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)53rd81st
Outdoors & history
ColstripBig Timber
Trails10 mi0 mi
Conserved land7.2%17.4%
Settled1998—
National Register places—4
Archive photos1815
Famous people born here—5
Community
ColstripBig Timber
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

160 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ColstripMTBig TimberMT
Colstrip ↔ Big Timber160 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.

ColstripBig Timber
People
Population 2,101Highest 1,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -5.3%Lowest MT: +9.6% +0.5%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 44.2±2.5Highest 9% above MT 43.6±5.4Lowest 8% above MT
Colstrip and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 27.2%±6.5Highest MT: 21% 20.8%±4.6Lowest MT: 21%
Colstrip and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 13.5%±3.9Lowest MT: 20.1% 29.1%±5.8Highest MT: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 25.9%Highest MT: 35.2% 16.2%Lowest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.8%±1.8Lowest MT: 5.2% 2.9%±2Highest MT: 5.2%
Big Timber and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $82,500±$51kHighest 14% above MT $66,898±$13kLowest 8% below MT
Colstrip and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $194,900±$34kLowest 48% below MT $278,200±$25kHighest 26% below MT
Rentmedian gross, monthly $659±$80Lowest 39% below MT $1,109±$292Highest about the MT average
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,098Lowest 59% below MT $1,433Highest 47% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 0%±16.5Lowest MT: 44.8% 34.5%±23.4Highest MT: 44.8%
Big Timber and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 9.4%Lowest MT: 11.5% 10.4%Highest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 82.8%Highest MT: 69.2% 80.3%Lowest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1983Highest 2 yrs newer than MT 1965Lowest 16 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 11 minLowest 44% below MT 19 minHighest about the MT average
Work from home 2.6%±2.9Lowest MT: 12.5% 12.5%±7.6Highest MT: 12.5%
Big Timber and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 41.4%Highest 34.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 1.8 miLowest 3.3 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.05Lowest 1.27Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Billings (6%)Billings (7%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in Big TimberFew work in Colstrip
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 7.2%Lowest 17.4%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 9.8 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 2.5 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 14Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 33.8Lowest 125Highest
Schools
School district Colstrip Elem · Colstrip H SBig Timber Elem · Sweet Grass County H S
High school in town Colstrip High SchoolSweet Grass Co High Schl
Students per teacherat that high school 8.5Lowest 11.5Highest
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.

Colstrip neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colstrip’s Town Square.

Big Timber neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Big Timber’s Town Square.

Add a town

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Towns like Colstrip

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Not sure which town to add? Find your place ranks Montana towns on what matters to you.Find your place →

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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