RANK #946 / 996 · POP 119,685 · MT
PROJECTED GROWTH: -2.6%
Gallatin County, Montana, is often first recognized for Bozeman, its largest city and county seat, which serves as a gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The county, situated in southwest Montana, is characterized by its dramatic natural scenery, including the Bridger and Gallatin mountain ranges and the Gallatin River. Commuting within the county is primarily by personal vehicle, though Bozeman offers a zero-fare bus system, Streamline, with routes extending to Belgrade and seasonal service to Bridger Bowl. The community offers extensive outdoor recreation, from whitewater rafting and fly fishing on the Gallatin and Yellowstone Rivers to hiking, cycling, and winter sports at Big Sky Resort and Bridger Bowl Ski Area. The Gallatin County Regional Park in Bozeman provides trails, a dog park, and Nordic ski trails in winter.
Life in Gallatin County attracts a mix of families, remote workers, and retirees drawn by the quality of life and access to natural amenities. Public schools in Gallatin County, including those in Bozeman, Belgrade, and West Yellowstone, are highly rated. The economy, historically rooted in agriculture, has diversified with strong growth in professional and technical services, healthcare, and tourism. Montana State University in Bozeman contributes to the local economy with its research programs. Recent economic developments include significant investment in data centers, a sector attracted by the region's infrastructure and tax policies. This growth has led to increased demand for housing and services.
Above national median (4.7x)
Prices declining
Prices detached from rents
Housing is fairly valued at 6.8x relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Meta Data Center
Meta
|
$1,500M | Operating |
|
Gallatin County Hidden Creek Affordable Housing
Gallatin County, United Housing Partners LLC, HRDC
|
$50M | Under Construction |
|
Gallatin County Courts Facility
Gallatin County
|
$46M | Under Construction |
|
Amazon Delivery Station
Amazon
|
$27M | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Gallatin County has a Boom Town Index score of 5/100, ranking #946 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +3.6% and a median household income of $83,434, it faces some economic headwinds compared to faster-growing counties.
The median home value in Gallatin County is $526,700 with median rent at $1,405/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.1584, which is less affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +2.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +3.6%. Home values changed -1.5% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 2.38% of Gallatin County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.