Darby is a town in Ravalli County, Montana, United States. The population was 783 at the 2020 census. Darby is located near the southwestern border of Montana and Idaho, along the Continental Divide. Officially established in 1889, the town was named after James W. Darby who signed the post office application.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

ZIP code59829

Area code406

Living in Darby

Housing in Darby

$569K▲ 2.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Darby home is worth about $569,000, up 2.8% in a year, 21% above the Montana typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Darby

—

Not graded

Darby has fewer than 1,000 residents. At that size one or two incidents swing the numbers so much that a grade wouldn't be fair, so we show the counts instead.

Violent6

Property5

Reported in 202511

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Darby

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Darby for work: only 18% work in town. The top destinations are Hamilton (22%), Missoula (5%) and Billings (5%). Half commute less than 16 miles.

Hamilton

22%

Missoula

Billings

Bozeman

18%Work in townlive and work in Darby 16 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 340Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Darby →

Health in Darby

Compared with Montana

6worse than MT

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 26 are too close to call.

Conditions 5▼ 7 close Habits all close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind all close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

17.1%More older adults who have lost all their teethMT 12.3% · worse 7.9%More adults with heart diseaseMT 6.6% · worse 4.1%More adults who have had a strokeMT 3.5% · worse

Care nearby

Bitterroot Health - Daly HospitalHamilton · 15.4 mi · ER · rural critical access

Sapphire Community HealthHamilton · 15.6 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careNo shortage

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Darby · CMS · HRSAHealth in Darby →

Natural hazards in Darby

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 98% of U.S. communities.

🔥 Wildfire🏔️ Avalanches🌊 Inland flooding

0Does Darby flood?no paid flood claims on record NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 11 declared for Ravalli County

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Darby →

Climate in Darby

Full climate →

Darby has chilly winters and warm summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 85°, a January night drops to 18°.

36° / 19°Winter

58° / 32°Spring

81° / 47°Summer

58° / 32°Fall

When is the first frost?Around Sep 23, with the last in spring around May 24.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Darby →

Schools in Darby

All Darby schools →

C⁻

School Grade C-

The public schools Darby’s kids attend trail 81% of Montana’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the bottom.

DistrictDarby K-12 SchoolsSchools3

Darby School CElementary · Grades PK–6 · 170 students Darby 7-8 CMiddle · Grades 7–8 · 48 students Darby High School DHigh · Grades 9–12 · 116 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within MT. Ratings are from neighbors.