Hamilton, MT — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Montana·Hamilton

Ravalli County · population 5,383

Growing fastSmall-town feel
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
View watchlist →
70
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Hamilton stands

Population growing 3.7% per year.

Median home $531,103
1-year -0.8%
5-yr CAGR +6.2%
vs 5-yr peak -2.6%
Population +3.7%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2022-07$531k$211k$330k$449k$567k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
25/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
10/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
67/100
Strong remote-work fit
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
46 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
71 · w22%
Distance from peak
74 · w18%
Population growth
90 · w16%
Home 10-yr CAGR
85 · w10%
Long thesis

Hamilton has been growing population at 3.7% per year while home values compounded +6.2% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.

Short thesis

Hamilton's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Hamilton

Hamilton is a city in Ravalli County, Montana, with an estimated population of 5,383. The population has grown 3.7% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Hamilton is $531,103 as of 2026-04, down 0.8% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.2% annual growth (-2.6% from the 5-year peak). The composite momentum score is 70 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●People are voting with their feet: population growing 3.7% per year since 2020 — that’s faster than ~80% of US cities.
●Healthy 5-year run: +6.2% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.
●Held the highs: currently -2.6% from the 5-year peak — this market refused to give back gains.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Ravalli County right now.

NWS active alerts (MT)Montana Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Ravalli County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Hamilton

Livingston, MT67 · RisingPolson, MT72 · RisingWhitefish, MT67 · RisingColumbia Falls, MT71 · Rising

Run the numbers for Hamilton

ToolCan I afford Hamilton?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Hamilton rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Hamilton to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolHamilton cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
33° / 14°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
84° / 53°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
196
~54% of year
Annual precip
15″ rain
48″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very high
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Hamilton listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Denver area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
60%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$70,800
Montana state median
Top industries (state-level)
TourismMiningAgriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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