Hobson is a city in Judith Basin County, Montana, United States. The population was 179 at the 2020 census. As the freight-wagon crossing of the Judith River between Fort Benton, Montana and the Musselshell River country, the community was once known as the “Gateway to the Judith Basin.” In 1881, the post office opened under the name Philbrook. In 1908, however, the Great Northern Railway’s Billings and Northern branch line established another town four miles west. After some dispute the railroad decided on the town name Hobson, after the owner of the new townsite.

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

Town numbers

ZIP code59452

Area code406

Living in Hobson

Housing in Hobson

$316K▲ 5.8% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Hobson home is worth about $316,000, up 5.8% in a year, 33% below the Montana typical home.

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Work & commute in Hobson

Full picture →

Most working residents leave Hobson for work: only 2% work in town. The top destinations are Stanford (23%), Great Falls (8%) and Lewistown (5%). Half commute less than 25 miles.

Stanford

23%

Great Falls

Lewistown

Windham

2%Work in townlive and work in Hobson 25 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 75Jobs based herebalanced

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Hobson →

Health in Hobson

Compared with Montana

4better than MT·10worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 18 are too close to call.

Conditions 8▼ 4 close Habits 1▲ 1▼ 2 close Care 3▲ 4 close Mind 1▼ 4 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

13.8%Fewer binge drinkersMT 20.3% · better 81.7%More adults treating high blood pressureMT 73.4% · better 11%More adults with heart diseaseMT 6.6% · worse

Care nearby

Central Montana Medical CenterLewistown · 20.7 mi · ER · rural critical access

One Health - LewistownLewistown · 21.5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalNo shortage

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

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

Natural hazards in Hobson

Low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 39% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

0Does Hobson flood?no paid flood claims on record 1Disasters that paid out herefederal disaster sent FEMA money to Hobson

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

Climate in Hobson

Full climate →

Hobson has cold, snowy winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 13°, and about 45 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

37° / 13°Winter

55° / 29°Spring

79° / 48°Summer

59° / 30°Fall

How much snow does Hobson get?About 45 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Sep 20, with the last in spring around May 28.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.3° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

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

Schools in Hobson

All Hobson schools →

A⁻

School Grade A-

The public schools Hobson’s kids attend outperform 77% of Montana’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they rank near the top.

DistrictHobson K-12 SchoolsSchools3

Hobson School B+Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 68 students Hobson 6-8 AMiddle · Grades 6–8 · 32 students Hobson High School A-High · Grades 9–12 · 31 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.