B

Rudyard, MT

Source:

Affordability Score: 70/100

Population: 371 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Rudyard, MT aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 371 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B (70/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $74,250, median home value of $131,300, median rent of $650 per month, and 36.4% 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 $1,307 per month (studio $980, 1BR $1,069, 3BR $1,724, 4BR $1,731). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,957 per year, consuming 15% 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. Strengths visible in the raw data for Rudyard, MT include housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 0.0% and poverty 5.9% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C+
$74,250
Median household income
Education C+
36.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A+
1.8x
Home value $131,300 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,307/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare C-
$10,957/yr
Center-based infant care (15% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$74,250
▲ 20% vs national
Per Capita Income
$31,897
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Poverty Rate
5.9%

Housing

Median Home Value
$131,300
▼ 52% vs national
Median Rent
$650/mo
Owner Occupied
67.4%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,307/mo
▲ 9% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$980
1BR
$1,069
2BR
$1,307
3BR
$1,724
4BR
$1,731

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
36.4%
▲ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
77.4%
Median Age
40.0
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,957/yr
15% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,385/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,787/yr
School-Age (Center)
$9,787/yr

What This Means

Rudyard, MT receives an overall affordability grade of B (70/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 371. This area performs well in housing and rent. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Rudyard, MT affordable?
Rudyard, MT receives an overall affordability grade of B (70/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $74,250. Median home value is $131,300.
What is the cost of living in Rudyard?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $650/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,307/mo. Infant childcare $10,957/yr. Median home value $131,300.
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 →