Bozeman
RANK #939 / 996 NAT · POP 119,685
1YR FORECAST: -0.5%
5YR OUTLOOK: +9%
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.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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.
The data is not encouraging — Gallatin County scores just 5/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #939 of 996 counties. Job growth at +3.6% and median household income of $83,434 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Gallatin County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $526,700 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.16 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,405/month on average.
Gallatin County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +2.5% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +3.6% clip. Home values shifted -1.5% in the past year.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.38% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Gallatin County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.