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Glasgow vs Colstrip

159 miles apart. The biggest differences: property tax bill (2.5× in Glasgow) and street grid (4.1× in Glasgow).

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Glasgow, MTKnown for its schoolsMontana · 3,190 people

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Colstrip, MTOne of the safest townsMontana · 2,101 people

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.

GlasgowKnown for its schools

SchoolsBetter than 72%of MT districts

Outdoors#2 most trails in MT5.5 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves Housing$175K typical home63% below the MT typical home All about Glasgow →

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.

Property tax bill2.5×

Tax bills are bigger in Glasgow

Glasgow $2,692Colstrip $1,098

Street grid4.1×

Glasgow has the more walkable street grid

Glasgow 139Colstrip 33.8

Age 65++10.8 pts

Glasgow has more people 65 and up

Glasgow 24.3%Colstrip 13.5%

Work from home+8.1 pts

More people work from home in Glasgow

Glasgow 10.7%Colstrip 2.6%

Typical home built19 yrs

Glasgow’s homes are older

Colstrip 1983Glasgow 1964

Colstrip has more miles of trail

Colstrip 9.8 miGlasgow 5.5 mi

★ 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+GlasgowSafer than 36% of U.S. towns A+ColstripSafer than 98% of U.S. towns

Schools

B+GlasgowBetter than 72% of districts in the state C−ColstripBetter than 24% of districts in the state

Health

B−GlasgowHealthier than 54% of U.S. towns B+ColstripHealthier than 71% of U.S. towns

Monthly cost

A typical home costs $240 more a month in Colstrip

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.

Down paymentRate%

Glasgow$1,120/mo

Typical home $175K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.38% · or rent about $805/mo · Housing →

Colstrip$1,360/mo

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

The difference: $240 a month, about $2,900 a year, between Colstrip and Glasgow.

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

GlasgowColstrip

Snow a year44″37″

January low—14°F

July high—85°F

Growing season (days)—138d

Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)40th 53rd

Outdoors & history

GlasgowColstrip

Trails6 mi 10 mi

Conserved land13.5%7.2%

Settled1887 1998

National Register places4 —

Archive photos11 18

Community

GlasgowColstrip

Library hours a week49 hrs 40 hrs

Posts this month0 0

Neighbors joined0 0

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

159 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

GlasgowMT ColstripMT

Glasgow ↔ Colstrip159 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.

Only big differences vs Montana average

GlasgowColstrip

People

Population 3,190Highest 2,101Lowest

Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -1.5%Highest MT: +9.6% -5.3%Lowest MT: +9.6%

Median age 44.6±4.9Highest 10% above MT 44.2±2.5Lowest 9% above MT

Glasgow and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Kids under 18 24%±4.3Lowest MT: 21% 27.2%±6.5Highest MT: 21%

Colstrip and Glasgow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Age 65+ 24.3%±5.3Highest MT: 20.1% 13.5%±3.9Lowest MT: 20.1%

Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 25.7%Lowest MT: 35.2% 25.9%Highest MT: 35.2%

Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 3.7%±1.7Highest MT: 5.2% 1.8%±1.8Lowest MT: 5.2%

Glasgow and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Cost of living

Household incomemedian $90,310±$24kHighest 25% above MT $82,500±$51kLowest 14% above MT

Glasgow and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $195,700±$41kHighest 48% below MT $194,900±$34kLowest 48% below MT

Glasgow and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Rentmedian gross, monthly $805±$217Highest 26% below MT $659±$80Lowest 39% below MT

Glasgow and Colstrip are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.

Property taxmedian, yearly $2,692Highest about the MT average $1,098Lowest 59% below MT

Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 43.1%±20.1Highest MT: 44.8% 0%±16.5Lowest MT: 44.8%

Below poverty line 8%Lowest MT: 11.5% 9.4%Highest MT: 11.5%

Housing

Homeownersof occupied homes 72.9%Lowest MT: 69.2% 82.8%Highest MT: 69.2%

Typical home builtmedian year 1964Lowest 17 yrs older than MT 1983Highest 2 yrs newer than MT

Getting to work

Average commuteone way 9 minLowest 55% below MT 11 minHighest 44% below MT

Work from home 10.7%±5.1Highest MT: 12.5% 2.6%±2.9Lowest MT: 12.5%

Work in townworking residents 51.9%Highest 41.4%Lowest

Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 1.3 miLowest 1.8 miHighest

Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.16Highest 1.05Lowest

Top workplaceoutside town Billings (4%)Billings (6%)

Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ColstripFew work in Glasgow

Outdoors

Conserved landshare of the town 13.5%Highest 7.2%Lowest

Trailsmapped miles 5.5 miLowest 9.8 miHighest

Trail densitymiles per sq mi 3.9 miHighest 2.5 miLowest

Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Lowest 14Highest

Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 139Highest 33.8Lowest

Schools

Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #25 of 40 in MT—

School district Glasgow K-12 SchoolsColstrip Elem · Colstrip H S

High school in town Glasgow High SchoolColstrip High School

Students per teacherat that high school 12.2Highest 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.

Glasgow neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Glasgow’s Town Square.

Colstrip neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Colstrip’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Glasgow and Colstrip

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Towns like Glasgow

Glendive4,810 people · $183K homes

Columbus2,003 people · $283K homes

Townsend1,967 people · $228K homes

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.