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Compare towns

Shelby vs Ronan

123 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (17.7× in Shelby) and conserved land (+30.1 pts in Shelby).

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Shelby, MTAn outdoors townMontana · 3,216 people
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Ronan, MTA regional job hubMontana · 2,001 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.

ShelbyAn outdoors town
Outdoors#3 most conserved land in MT11 miles of trails across 5 parks and preserves Health66% of U.S. towns are healthieron CDC estimates Housing$185K typical home61% below the MT typical home All about Shelby →
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 →
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.

Trails17.7×
Shelby has more miles of trail
Shelby 10.6 miRonan 0.6 mi
Conserved land+30.1 pts
Shelby has more conserved land
Shelby 32.8%Ronan 2.7%
Growth since 2010+10.6 pts
Ronan has grown faster since 2010
Ronan +4.5%Shelby -6.1%
Kids under 18+7.9 pts
Ronan has more kids
Ronan 26.1%Shelby 18.2%
Property tax bill+29%
Tax bills are bigger in Shelby
Shelby $2,013Ronan $1,563
Street grid+74%
Ronan has the more walkable street grid
Ronan 75.6Shelby 43.5
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,440 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.

Shelby$1,100/mo
Typical home $185K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.87% · or rent about $893/mo · Housing →
Ronan$2,540/mo
Typical home $437K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.69% · or rent about $880/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,440 a month, about $17,300 a year, between Ronan and Shelby.

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
–ShelbyNot graded DRonanSafer than 8% of U.S. towns
Schools
C+ShelbyBetter than 43% of districts in the state C−RonanBetter than 15% of districts in the state
Health
CShelbyHealthier than 34% of U.S. towns C−RonanHealthier than 21% 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
ShelbyRonan
Snow a year39″34″
January low6°F20°F
July high82°F83°F
Growing season (days)115d134d
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)0th51st
Outdoors & history
ShelbyRonan
Trails11 mi1 mi
Conserved land32.8%2.7%
National Register places31
Archive photos—24
Community
ShelbyRonan
Library hours a week36 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

123 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

ShelbyMTRonanMT
Shelby ↔ Ronan123 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.

ShelbyRonan
People
Population 3,216Highest 2,001Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -6.1%Lowest MT: +9.6% +4.5%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 37.7±3.3 7% below MT 37.7±4.8 7% below MT
Kids under 18 18.2%±3.2Lowest MT: 21% 26.1%±4.5Highest MT: 21%
Age 65+ 15.5%±2.7Lowest MT: 20.1% 21.4%±0.5Highest MT: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 19.5%Lowest MT: 35.2% 20%Highest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 1.9%±1.3Lowest MT: 5.2% 2.3%±1.5Highest MT: 5.2%
Ronan and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $58,413±$11kHighest 19% below MT $42,298±$6kLowest 42% below MT
Shelby and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $232,700±$37kHighest 38% below MT $225,500±$20kLowest 40% below MT
Shelby and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $893±$240Highest 17% below MT $880±$210Lowest 19% below MT
Shelby and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $2,013Highest 25% below MT $1,563Lowest 42% below MT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 47.8%±15Lowest MT: 44.8% 60.3%±12.4Highest MT: 44.8%
Ronan and Shelby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 13.8%Lowest MT: 11.5% 21.6%Highest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 61%Highest MT: 69.2% 60.3%Lowest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1960Lowest 21 yrs older than MT 1972Highest 9 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 14 minLowest 27% below MT 15 minHighest 19% below MT
Work from home 6.8%±4.2Highest MT: 12.5% 5.8%±3Lowest MT: 12.5%
Shelby and Ronan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 41.1%Highest 27.9%Lowest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 12.3 miHighest 10.8 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 1.04Lowest 1.92Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Great Falls (8%)Polson (26%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in RonanFew work in Shelby
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 32.8%Highest 2.7%Lowest
Trailsmapped miles 10.6 miHighest 0.6 miLowest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 1.8 miHighest 0.4 miLowest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 5Highest 1Lowest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 43.5Lowest 75.6Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #23 of 40 in MT—
School district Shelby Elem · Shelby H SRonan Elem · Ronan H S
High school in town Shelby High SchoolRonan High School
Students per teacherat that high school 10.4Lowest 17.6Highest
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.

Shelby neighborsTown Square →
T Weaver · 1w

Favorite Outdoor Spots in Shelby

1 neighbor in Shelby can answer.

Ronan neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Ronan’s Town Square.

Add a town

Set another town beside Shelby and Ronan

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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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