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Columbus vs Big Timber

36 miles apart. The biggest differences: conserved land (+17 pts in Columbus) and average commute (8 min in Big Timber).

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Columbus, MTA regional job hubMontana · 2,003 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.

ColumbusA regional job hub
Work1,419 jobsbased in Columbus, a regional job hub Outdoors34.4% conserved land0.4 miles of trails across 1 parks and preserves SafetySafer than 24%of U.S. towns we grade All about Columbus →
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 differ most

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

Conserved land+17 pts
Columbus has more conserved land
Columbus 34.4%Big Timber 17.4%
Average commute8 min
Big Timber has the shorter commute
Columbus 27 minBig Timber 19 min
Property tax bill+24%
Tax bills are bigger in Columbus
Columbus $1,777Big Timber $1,433
★ 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
C−ColumbusSafer than 24% of U.S. towns –Big TimberNot graded
Schools
B+ColumbusBetter than 73% of districts in the state B−Big TimberBetter than 52% of districts in the state
Health
A−ColumbusHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns B+Big TimberHealthier than 71% 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.

Columbus$2,660/mo
Typical home $461K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.63% · or rent about $945/mo · Housing →
Big Timber$2,540/mo
Typical home $449K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.52% · or rent about $1,109/mo · Housing →

The difference: $110 a month, about $1,400 a year, between Columbus and Big Timber.

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
ColumbusBig Timber
Snow a year48″55″
January low10°F20°F
July high85°F86°F
Growing season (days)108d133d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)74th81st
Outdoors & history
ColumbusBig Timber
Trails0 mi0 mi
Conserved land34.4%17.4%
National Register places54
Archive photos1215
Famous people born here55
Community
ColumbusBig Timber
Library hours a week51 hrs40 hrs
Posts this month00
Neighbors joined10

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

36 miles apart

And the people who already live in one and work in the other.

ColumbusMTBig TimberMT
Columbus ↔ Big Timber36 miles apart
Who commutes between them
10 Big Timber residents work in Columbus (1.7% of its workers)
8 Columbus residents work in Big Timber (1% of its workers)
Work & commute in Big Timber →
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.

ColumbusBig Timber
People
Population 2,003Highest 1,611Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.9%Lowest MT: +9.6% +0.5%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 47.2±3.8Highest 17% above MT 43.6±5.4Lowest 8% above MT
Columbus and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 19.1%±3.5Lowest MT: 21% 20.8%±4.6Highest MT: 21%
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 27.4%±4.3Lowest MT: 20.1% 29.1%±5.8Highest MT: 20.1%
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24%Highest MT: 35.2% 16.2%Lowest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.2%±1.8Lowest MT: 5.2% 2.9%±2Highest MT: 5.2%
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $65,250±$17kLowest 10% below MT $66,898±$13kHighest 8% below MT
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $282,800±$24kHighest 25% below MT $278,200±$25kLowest 26% below MT
Columbus and Big Timber are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $945±$46Lowest 13% below MT $1,109±$292Highest about the MT average
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,777Highest 34% below MT $1,433Lowest 47% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.4%±16.8Lowest MT: 44.8% 34.5%±23.4Highest MT: 44.8%
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 11%Highest MT: 11.5% 10.4%Lowest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 76.7%Lowest MT: 69.2% 80.3%Highest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Highest 12 yrs older than MT 1965Lowest 16 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 41% above MT 19 minLowest about the MT average
Work from home 5.4%±2.8Lowest MT: 12.5% 12.5%±7.6Highest MT: 12.5%
Big Timber and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 35.8%Highest 34.6%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.8 miHighest 3.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.75Highest 1.27Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Billings (19%)Billings (7%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others 1% work in Big Timber2% work in Columbus
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 34.4%Highest 17.4%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.4 mi 0.4 mi
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 0.4 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1 1
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 99.3Lowest 125Highest
Schools
School district Columbus Elem · Columbus H SBig Timber Elem · Sweet Grass County H S
High school in town Columbus High SchoolSweet Grass Co High Schl
Students per teacherat that high school 15.8Highest 11.5Lowest
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.

Columbus neighborsTown Square →

1 neighbor in Columbus can answer.

Big Timber neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Big Timber’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Columbus and Big Timber

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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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