D

Fromberg, MT

Source:

Affordability Score: 47/100

Population: 733 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Fromberg, MT aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 733 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of D (47/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $72,188, median home value of $296,400, median rent of $877 per month, and 19.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,417 per month (studio $1,016, 1BR $1,109, 3BR $1,951, 4BR $2,216). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $11,473 per year, consuming 16% of the local median household income.

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education, housing, commute. Unemployment currently reads 9.6% and poverty 11.5% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$72,188
Median household income
Education F
19.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing F
4.1x
Home value $296,400 vs income
Commute F
36 min
Average commute time
Rent B
$1,417/mo
2BR fair market rent (24% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare D
$11,473/yr
Center-based infant care (16% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$72,188
▲ 16% vs national
Per Capita Income
$36,328
Unemployment Rate
9.6%
Poverty Rate
11.5%

Housing

Median Home Value
$296,400
▲ 8% vs national
Median Rent
$877/mo
Owner Occupied
81.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,417/mo
▲ 18% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,016
1BR
$1,109
2BR
$1,417
3BR
$1,951
4BR
$2,216

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
19.9%
▼ 10 ppt vs national
High School+
69.4%
Median Age
45.4
Avg. Commute
36 min
▲ 10 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$11,473/yr
16% of income
Toddler (Center)
$12,032/yr
Preschool (Center)
$10,260/yr
School-Age (Center)
$10,260/yr

What This Means

Fromberg, MT receives an overall affordability grade of D (47/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 733. Challenges include education and housing and commute. Data was unavailable for safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore Fromberg ZIP Codes
View all 1 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Fromberg, MT affordable?
Fromberg, MT receives an overall affordability grade of D (47/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $72,188. Median home value is $296,400.
What is the cost of living in Fromberg?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $877/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,417/mo. Infant childcare $11,473/yr. Median home value $296,400.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →