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Ronan vs Conrad

109 miles apart. The biggest differences: growth since 2010 (+14.3 pts in Ronan) and trails (2× in Conrad).

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Ronan, MTA regional job hubMontana · 2,001 people
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Conrad, MTHomes around $261KMontana · 2,618 people
Swap order
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.

RonanA regional job hub
Work1,465 jobsbased in Ronan, a regional job hub SafetySafer than 8%of U.S. towns we grade SchoolsBetter than 15%of MT districts All about Ronan →
ConradHomes around $261K
Housing$261K typical home45% below the MT typical home Outdoors#9 most walkable in MT1.2 miles of trails across 3 parks and preserves Health56% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates All about Conrad →
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.

Growth since 2010+14.3 pts
Ronan has grown faster since 2010
Ronan +4.5%Conrad -9.8%
Trails2×
Conrad has more miles of trail
Conrad 1.2 miRonan 0.6 mi
Work in town+14.1 pts
More of Conrad’s workers stay in town
Conrad 42%Ronan 27.9%
Jobs per worker+85%
Ronan is more of a job hub
Ronan 1.92Conrad 1.04
Conserved land+11 pts
Conrad has more conserved land
Conrad 13.7%Ronan 2.7%
Street grid+52%
Conrad has the more walkable street grid
Conrad 115Ronan 75.6
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,000 more a month in Ronan

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.

Ronan$2,540/mo
Typical home $437K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $880/mo · Housing →
Conrad$1,550/mo
Typical home $261K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.81% · or rent about $918/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,000 a month, about $11,900 a year, between Ronan and Conrad.

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
DRonanSafer than 8% of U.S. towns B−ConradSafer than 53% of U.S. towns
Schools
C−RonanBetter than 15% of districts in the state B+ConradBetter than 65% of districts in the state
Health
C−RonanHealthier than 21% of U.S. towns C+ConradHealthier than 44% 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
RonanConrad
Snow a year34″47″
January low20°F11°F
July high83°F82°F
Growing season (days)134d119d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)51st24th
Outdoors & history
RonanConrad
Trails1 mi1 mi
Conserved land2.7%13.7%
Settled—1908
National Register places11
Archive photos1813
Famous people born here—10
Community
RonanConrad
Library hours a week—44 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

109 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

RonanMTConradMT
Ronan ↔ Conrad109 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.

RonanConrad
People
Population 2,001Lowest 2,618Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census +4.5%Highest MT: +9.6% -9.8%Lowest MT: +9.6%
Median age 37.7±4.8Lowest 7% below MT 39.5±3.3Highest about the MT average
Conrad and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 26.1%±4.5Highest MT: 21% 23.2%±2.8Lowest MT: 21%
Ronan and Conrad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 21.4%±0.5Lowest MT: 20.1% 22.6%±2.9Highest MT: 20.1%
Conrad and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 20%Lowest MT: 35.2% 23.4%Highest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.3%±1.5Highest MT: 5.2% 1.5%±1.5Lowest MT: 5.2%
Ronan and Conrad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $42,298±$6kLowest 42% below MT $47,857±$4kHighest 34% below MT
Conrad and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $225,500±$20kHighest 40% below MT $188,900±$30kLowest 50% below MT
Ronan and Conrad are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $880±$210Lowest 19% below MT $918±$86Highest 15% below MT
Conrad and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,563Highest 42% below MT $1,538Lowest 43% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 60.3%±12.4Highest MT: 44.8% 37.4%±9.6Lowest MT: 44.8%
Below poverty line 21.6%Highest MT: 11.5% 17.6%Lowest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 60.3%Lowest MT: 69.2% 63.1%Highest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1972Highest 9 yrs older than MT 1962Lowest 19 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 15 minHighest 19% below MT 15 minLowest 23% below MT
Work from home 5.8%±3Lowest MT: 12.5% 7.4%±4.6Highest MT: 12.5%
Conrad and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 27.9%Lowest 42%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 10.8 miLowest 16.8 miHighest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.92Highest 1.04Lowest
Top workplaceoutside town Polson (26%)Great Falls (9%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in ConradFew work in Ronan
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 2.7%Lowest 13.7%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.6 miLowest 1.2 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.4 miLowest 0.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 1Lowest 3Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 75.6Lowest 115Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#16 of 40 in MT
School district Ronan Elem · Ronan H SConrad H S · Conrad Elem
High school in town Ronan High SchoolConrad High School
Students per teacherat that high school 17.6Highest 8.9Lowest
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.

Ronan neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ronan’s Town Square.

Conrad neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Conrad’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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