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Columbus vs Colstrip

128 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (24.5× in Colstrip) and street grid (2.9× in Columbus).

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Columbus, MTA regional job hubMontana · 2,003 people
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Colstrip, MTOne of the safest townsMontana · 2,101 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 →
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 →
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 miColumbus 0.4 mi
Street grid2.9×
Columbus has the more walkable street grid
Columbus 99.3Colstrip 33.8
Property tax bill+62%
Tax bills are bigger in Columbus
Columbus $1,777Colstrip $1,098
Average commute16 min
Colstrip has the shorter commute
Columbus 27 minColstrip 11 min
Home values+45%
Homes cost more in Columbus
Columbus $282,800Colstrip $194,900
Rent+43%
Rent runs higher in Columbus
Columbus $945Colstrip $659
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,300 more a month in Columbus

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 →
Colstrip$1,360/mo
Typical home $239K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.56% · or rent about $659/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,300 a month, about $15,500 a year, between Columbus 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
C−ColumbusSafer than 24% of U.S. towns A+ColstripSafer than 98% of U.S. towns
Schools
B+ColumbusBetter than 73% of districts in the state C−ColstripBetter than 24% of districts in the state
Health
A−ColumbusHealthier than 76% of U.S. towns B+ColstripHealthier 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
ColumbusColstrip
Snow a year48″37″
January low10°F14°F
July high85°F85°F
Growing season (days)108d138d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)74th53rd
Outdoors & history
ColumbusColstrip
Trails0 mi10 mi
Conserved land34.4%7.2%
Settled—1998
National Register places5—
Archive photos1218
Famous people born here5—
Community
ColumbusColstrip
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

128 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ColumbusMTColstripMT
Columbus ↔ Colstrip128 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.

ColumbusColstrip
People
Population 2,003Lowest 2,101Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.9%Highest MT: +9.6% -5.3%Lowest MT: +9.6%
Median age 47.2±3.8Highest 17% above MT 44.2±2.5Lowest 9% above MT
Columbus and Colstrip 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% 27.2%±6.5Highest MT: 21%
Colstrip and Columbus are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 27.4%±4.3Highest MT: 20.1% 13.5%±3.9Lowest MT: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 24%Lowest MT: 35.2% 25.9%Highest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.2%±1.8Highest MT: 5.2% 1.8%±1.8Lowest MT: 5.2%
Columbus and Colstrip 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 $82,500±$51kHighest 14% above MT
Colstrip 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 $194,900±$34kLowest 48% below MT
Rentmedian gross, monthly $945±$46Highest 13% below MT $659±$80Lowest 39% below MT
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,777Highest 34% below MT $1,098Lowest 59% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 34.4%±16.8Highest MT: 44.8% 0%±16.5Lowest MT: 44.8%
Below poverty line 11%Highest MT: 11.5% 9.4%Lowest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 76.7%Lowest MT: 69.2% 82.8%Highest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1969Lowest 12 yrs older than MT 1983Highest 2 yrs newer than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 27 minHighest 41% above MT 11 minLowest 44% below MT
Work from home 5.4%±2.8Highest MT: 12.5% 2.6%±2.9Lowest MT: 12.5%
Columbus and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 35.8%Lowest 41.4%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 23.8 miHighest 1.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.75Highest 1.05Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Billings (19%)Billings (6%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColstripFew work in Columbus
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 34.4%Highest 7.2%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 0.4 miLowest 9.8 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.3 miLowest 2.5 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 14Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 99.3Highest 33.8Lowest
Schools
School district Columbus Elem · Columbus H SColstrip Elem · Colstrip H S
High school in town Columbus High SchoolColstrip High School
Students per teacherat that high school 15.8Highest 8.5Lowest
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.

Colstrip neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colstrip’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Columbus and Colstrip

One tap adds it. Up to 4 towns at once.

Towns like Columbus

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Deer Lodge3,021 people · $248K homes
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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