Montana Mortgage Calculator (2026)

Rates as of Oct 22 2026 · county tax data: ACS 2020–2024, released 2026-01-29

Statewide avg. effective tax rate
0.72%
Median home value
$350,000
Home insurance (est.)
$1,800/yr

Estimated PITI at the Montana median home price of $350,000, 20% down, 30-year fixed at 7.32%: $2,310/mo. The tax line uses Yellowstone County (Billings)'s effective rate of 0.81% and insurance of $1,800/yr — the calculator's default county. Buyer's transfer tax: no state transfer tax.

Payment calculator

Loan type
$
%
$70,000 cash
%
30-yr fixed base 7.32% · credit adj +0.00% → 7.32% · PMMS Oct 22 2026
Loan term
Credit score
sets local tax & insurance
Picking a county updates the local property tax rate and insurance estimate — your home price stays as entered.
Advanced — HOA & extra payments
$
$
Estimated monthly payment
$2,309.66/mo
$2,310/mo
Principal & interest$1,923.41
Property tax$236.25
Home insurance$150.00
Covers principal & interest, property tax, insurance and mortgage insurance (when it applies). HOA counts only if entered above — left blank it is $0.
Loan amount$280,000
Down payment$70,000
LTV80%
Total interest$412,426
Payoff date…
Cash to close (estimate)
Down payment$70,000
Closing costs (2%–5%)$7,000 – $17,500
Est. cash needed$77,000 – $87,500
Transfer tax: No state transfer tax
The 2%–5% covers lender & title fees only. Transfer tax is not part of the cash total — it is listed separately, and some cities levy their own on top.
Using Yellowstone County (Billings) effective rate 0.81% · insurance $1,800/yr
Amortization
Year 12
Principal paid
$49,460
Interest paid
$227,511
Still owed
$230,540
$500k$375k$250k$125k$0
08152330

All three lines are running totals since the loan started — not a breakdown of the monthly payment.

What local costs matter in Montana?

Effective property tax rate ~0.61%, below the U.S. average
No state transfer tax — lower closing costs
Essentially no state sales tax on everyday purchases
Wildfire and earthquake risk shape insurance choices
All 56 Montana counties — property tax rates
CountyEffective tax rateProperty tax /moInsurance (est.)
Yellowstone County (Billings)0.81%$$236$1,800/yr
Missoula County0.88%$$257$1,700/yr
Flathead County (Kalispell)0.58%$$169$1,600/yr
Gallatin County (Bozeman)0.59%$$172$1,550/yr
Lewis and Clark County (Helena)0.79%$$230$1,650/yr
Beaverhead County0.67%$$195$1,800/yr
Big Horn County1.1%$$321$1,800/yr
Blaine County1.34%$$391$1,800/yr
Broadwater County0.56%$$163$1,800/yr
Carbon County0.54%$$158$1,800/yr
Carter County0.45%$$131$1,800/yr
Cascade County0.87%$$254$1,800/yr
Show all 56 counties
CountyEffective tax rateProperty tax /moInsurance (est.)
Chouteau County0.75%$$219$1,800/yr
Custer County1.03%$$300$1,800/yr
Daniels County0.87%$$254$1,800/yr
Dawson County1.14%$$332$1,800/yr
Deer Lodge County0.78%$$228$1,800/yr
Fallon County0.5%$$146$1,800/yr
Fergus County0.75%$$219$1,800/yr
Garfield County0.62%$$181$1,800/yr
Glacier County0.84%$$245$1,800/yr
Golden Valley County0.53%$$155$1,800/yr
Granite County0.6%$$175$1,800/yr
Hill County0.98%$$286$1,800/yr
Jefferson County0.55%$$160$1,800/yr
Judith Basin County0.45%$$131$1,800/yr
Lake County0.61%$$178$1,800/yr
Liberty County0.93%$$271$1,800/yr
Lincoln County0.54%$$158$1,800/yr
Madison County0.41%$$120$1,800/yr
McCone County0.68%$$198$1,800/yr
Meagher County0.66%$$193$1,800/yr
Mineral County0.48%$$140$1,800/yr
Musselshell County0.55%$$160$1,800/yr
Park County0.56%$$163$1,800/yr
Petroleum County0.6%$$175$1,800/yr
Phillips County0.78%$$228$1,800/yr
Pondera County0.8%$$233$1,800/yr
Powder River County0.68%$$198$1,800/yr
Powell County0.69%$$201$1,800/yr
Prairie County0.84%$$245$1,800/yr
Ravalli County0.5%$$146$1,800/yr
Richland County0.74%$$216$1,800/yr
Roosevelt County1.28%$$373$1,800/yr
Rosebud County0.7%$$204$1,800/yr
Sanders County0.53%$$155$1,800/yr
Sheridan County1.23%$$359$1,800/yr
Silver Bow County0.98%$$286$1,800/yr
Stillwater County0.57%$$166$1,800/yr
Sweet Grass County0.49%$$143$1,800/yr
Teton County0.75%$$219$1,800/yr
Toole County0.87%$$254$1,800/yr
Treasure County0.59%$$172$1,800/yr
Valley County1.18%$$344$1,800/yr
Wheatland County0.56%$$163$1,800/yr
Wibaux County0.61%$$178$1,800/yr
Montana state average0.72%$$210$1,800/yr
Monthly tax is estimated on a $350,000 home — the price in the calculator above. Effective rates — U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2024 (5-yr).

† Rates marked with ≥ are conservative estimates. ACS suppresses median tax values above $10,001 for privacy, which makes the calculated rate a lower bound — the true rate is higher in Manhattan, parts of Long Island, northern New Jersey and other high-cost areas.

How Montana compares

Montana's statewide average effective rate is 0.72% — the 32nd highest of the 51 covered here (the 50 states and DC), against a median of 0.8%. On the $350,000 home the calculator starts with, that is about $210 a month in property tax before any other cost. Property taxes by state ranks all 51 with median bills attached.

A state average hides the part that changes the bill. The county rows above run from 0.41% in Madison County to 1.34% in Blaine County — roughly $271 a month apart on the same $350,000 home. That is why the county picker moves the payment more than the state picker does.

Insurance is the other line that follows the address: this page prices $1,800 a year as a state-level estimate, and home insurance by state covers how premiums are set and where they run highest. Below 20% down, PMI adds a third variable until the balance is back to 80% of the value.

The states nearest Montana in the ranking are Virginia (0.73%) and California (0.7%).

Montana mortgage FAQ

How much down payment do I need to buy a house in Montana?

Conventional loans start at 3% down, but anything under 20% requires PMI until you reach 20% equity — PMI auto-cancels at 78% of the original home value under the Homeowners Protection Act. FHA loans start at 3.5% down, and VA / USDA loans offer 0% down for eligible borrowers. Those are the national minimums: a lender can set a higher floor for this state or for a given loan size.

Why do property taxes vary so much within Montana?

Property taxes are layered by county, city and school district, so the effective rate differs block by block. The Montana state average is about 0.72%, but counties in our table above range widely — always confirm the exact bill with the local County Assessor.

When does PMI go away?

Under the Homeowners Protection Act (1998) you can request PMI removal at 80% LTV, and lenders must automatically cancel it when the balance reaches 78% of the original home value. This calculator estimates that month for you and shows the lower payment after PMI drops.

Does this calculator include home insurance for Montana?

Yes. The calculator pre-fills a typical Montana premium of about $1,800 per year and updates it when you switch counties. Hail, wildfire and hard winters are the three perils that price Montana policies. Get real quotes before budgeting.

More free mortgage tools

Sources

Freddie MacU.S. Census BureauFannie MaeU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsPrivate mortgage insurersNAICState statutes and departments of revenue

Results are estimates for planning only and are not a loan approval. Property tax rates and insurance premiums vary by county, ZIP code, home age and coverage — confirm with the local County Assessor and insurer quotes. Rate default: Freddie Mac PMMS 30-yr fixed (7.32%, Oct 22 2026); the 20-yr default is an estimate derived from the PMMS 30-yr/15-yr spread (PMMS has no 20-yr series). Conventional credit pricing adds Fannie Mae loan-level price adjustments (effective 2026-10-01) on top of that base, anchored at the 740–759 tier, and PMI comes off a credit × LTV rate card — both are central estimates, not quotes. Loan minimums shown here are the national programs' floor; a lender may set a higher down payment, rate or fee for this state or this loan.