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Townsend vs Glasgow

263 miles apart. The biggest differences: trails (6.1× in Glasgow) and average commute (23 min in Glasgow).

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Townsend, MTA history townMontana · 1,967 people
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Glasgow, MTKnown for its schoolsMontana · 3,190 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.

TownsendA history town
HistorySettled in 18832 places on the National Register Outdoors13.4% conserved land0.9 miles of trails across 4 parks and preserves All about Townsend →
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 →
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.

Trails6.1×
Glasgow has more miles of trail
Glasgow 5.5 miTownsend 0.9 mi
Average commute23 min
Glasgow has the shorter commute
Townsend 31 minGlasgow 9 min
Property tax bill+58%
Tax bills are bigger in Glasgow
Glasgow $2,692Townsend $1,701
Work in town+28.2 pts
More of Glasgow’s workers stay in town
Glasgow 51.9%Townsend 23.7%
Jobs per worker+53%
Glasgow is more of a job hub
Glasgow 1.16Townsend 0.76
★ What stands out · Monthly cost

A typical home costs $1,530 more a month in Townsend

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.

Townsend$2,650/mo
Typical home $452K (Zillow) · tax rate 0.75% · or rent about $952/mo · Housing →
Glasgow$1,120/mo
Typical home $175K (Zillow) · tax rate 1.38% · or rent about $805/mo · Housing →

The difference: $1,530 a month, about $18,400 a year, between Townsend 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.

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
–TownsendNot graded C+GlasgowSafer than 36% of U.S. towns
Schools
BTownsendBetter than 55% of districts in the state B+GlasgowBetter than 72% of districts in the state
Health
C+TownsendHealthier than 41% of U.S. towns B−GlasgowHealthier than 54% 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
TownsendGlasgow
Snow a year24″44″
January low14°F—
July high83°F—
Growing season (days)122d—
Hazard risk (U.S. pctl)78th40th
Outdoors & history
TownsendGlasgow
Trails1 mi6 mi
Conserved land13.4%13.5%
Settled18831887
National Register places24
Archive photos1811
Famous people born here2—
Community
TownsendGlasgow
Library hours a week39 hrs49 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

263 miles apart

Straight-line miles between town centers.

TownsendMTGlasgowMT
Townsend ↔ Glasgow263 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.

TownsendGlasgow
People
Population 1,967Lowest 3,190Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census -4.8%Lowest MT: +9.6% -1.5%Highest MT: +9.6%
Median age 49.1±5.6Highest 22% above MT 44.6±4.9Lowest 10% above MT
Townsend and Glasgow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18 17.6%±3.8Lowest MT: 21% 24%±4.3Highest MT: 21%
Glasgow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+ 19.5%±3.6Lowest MT: 20.1% 24.3%±5.3Highest MT: 20.1%
Glasgow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ 21.5%Lowest MT: 35.2% 25.7%Highest MT: 35.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents 2.4%±2.4Lowest MT: 5.2% 3.7%±1.7Highest MT: 5.2%
Glasgow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian $70,752±$8kLowest about the MT average $90,310±$24kHighest 25% above MT
Glasgow and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied $227,600±$50kHighest 39% below MT $195,700±$41kLowest 48% below MT
Townsend and Glasgow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly $952±$103Highest 12% below MT $805±$217Lowest 26% below MT
Townsend and Glasgow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly $1,701Lowest 37% below MT $2,692Highest about the MT average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent 55.6%±22.7Highest MT: 44.8% 43.1%±20.1Lowest MT: 44.8%
Townsend and Glasgow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line 15.6%Highest MT: 11.5% 8%Lowest MT: 11.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes 73.2%Highest MT: 69.2% 72.9%Lowest MT: 69.2%
Typical home builtmedian year 1975Highest 6 yrs older than MT 1964Lowest 17 yrs older than MT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way 31 minHighest 63% above MT 9 minLowest 55% below MT
Work from home 13.5%±7.7Highest MT: 12.5% 10.7%±5.1Lowest MT: 12.5%
Townsend and Glasgow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Work in townworking residents 23.7%Lowest 51.9%Highest
Typical commute distancemedian, straight-line 30.8 miHighest 1.3 miLowest
Jobs per working residentover 1.5 = a job hub 0.76Lowest 1.16Highest
Top workplaceoutside town Helena (16%)Billings (4%)
Between these townsresidents who work in the others Few work in GlasgowFew work in Townsend
Outdoors
Conserved landshare of the town 13.4%Lowest 13.5%Highest
Trailsmapped miles 0.9 miLowest 5.5 miHighest
Trail densitymiles per sq mi 0.6 miLowest 3.9 miHighest
Parks & preservesnamed on the map 4Lowest 5Highest
Street connectivityintersections per sq mi, a walkability measure 109Lowest 139Highest
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading —#25 of 40 in MT
School district Townsend K-12 SchoolsGlasgow K-12 Schools
High school in town Broadwater High SchoolGlasgow High School
Students per teacherat that high school 12.7Highest 12.2Lowest
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.

Townsend neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Townsend’s Town Square.

Glasgow neighborsTown Square →

Your question goes to Glasgow’s Town Square.

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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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