Shelby makes Montana’s top 10 on 3 lists
Shelby is ranked on 32 lists against the 43 Montana towns with 2,500+ residents. It makes the top 10 on 3 and the top quarter on 2.
A podium finish, and more
Each list ranks every MT town with 2,500+ residents. Tap one to see the whole list with Shelby marked.
1 spot from the top 3 for low depression
Lists where Shelby sits just outside a milestone, and what it would take to get in.
Shelby lands in the top half on 7 of 19 lists
Each dot is Shelby’s spot on one list: the left end is #1 in MT, the right end is last. Areas where Shelby does best come first.
Steadier prices than 89% of Montana
Not better or worse, just Shelby’s character, from the lists where neither end is the “good” one. The most distinctive come first.
Where Shelby lands in every MT ranking
35 lists from Census, school, health, library, crime, climate and land data. Tap any list to see every town on it.
Outdoors
Most conserved land#1 Anaconda-Deer Lodge County · 61.7%
#3
Most trails#1 Helena · 4.3 mi / sq mi
#9
Most walkable#1 Miles City · 170 / sq mi
#27 Cost of living
Most affordable#1 Wolf Point · 1.6 yrs
#12
Cheapest rent#1 North Browning · $475/mo
#13
Lowest property tax#1 North Browning · $199/yr
#11 Getting around
Shortest commute#1 Glasgow · 8.5 min
#12 Health
Healthiest#1 Four Corners · 95 / 100
#36
Lowest obesity#1 Bozeman · 22%
#33
Fewest smokers#1 Bozeman · 9%
#38
Most active#1 Four Corners · 13%
#35
Fewest uninsured#1 Montana City · 6%
#40
Lowest depression#1 Bigfork · 22%
#4
Closest to a top hospital#1 Miles City · 0.7 mi
Housing
Vacation-home towns#1 Red Lodge · 23.8%
#11
B
Most new homes#1 Belgrade · 24.1 per 1,000
#23
Fastest-rising home prices#1 Libby · +93.3%
#33 People
Most educated#1 Bozeman · 65.1%
#37
Youngest#1 Malmstrom AFB · 22.5
#19
Oldest#1 Red Lodge · 59.7
#25
Most residents 65+#1 Hamilton · 34.3%
#28
Most kids#1 North Browning · 34.7%
#33 Climate
Snowiest#1 Red Lodge · 142 in
#24
Least snow#1 Dillon · 11 in
#15
Mildest winters#1 Libby · 21.1°
#37
Hottest summers#1 Miles City · 90.0°
#34
Coolest summers#1 Anaconda-Deer Lodge County · 66.9°
#11
Longest growing season#1 Glendive · 153 days
#31
Wettest#1 Anaconda-Deer Lodge County · 35 in
#36 Safety
Safest#1 Libby · 16.3
The number on the right is Shelby’s spot. All of Montana’s rankings, with the map → · National lists and other states: all rankings.
Do the numbers ring true?
The lists count what can be counted. Neighbors know the rest.
Your answer becomes a post in Town Square.
- 2,500+ residents. Census estimates for smaller towns carry margins of error too wide to rank fairly, so they sit out every MT list.
- One town, one row. A city that is both a city and a town in Census data, or a village inside a town, is counted once.
- Ties share a rank. Towns on one weather station, one school district or one CDC estimate share a figure, so they share a spot (T).
- No “worst” lists. Lists rank toward the good end, and share cards are made only for the top half. Age, snow and the like are character, not grades.
U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, 2010 and 2020 censuses, Building Permits Survey), U.S. Department of Education, FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, CDC PLACES, Medicare Care Compare, IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FHFA House Price Index, NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, USGS PAD-US and OpenStreetMap. Each list explains its own method.