B+

Sunburst, MT

Source:

Affordability Score: 79/100

Population: 802 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Sunburst, MT aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 802 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B+ (79/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $92,500, median home value of $164,500, median rent of $1,094 per month, and 35.5% 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 $1,230 per month (studio $918, 1BR $1,052, 3BR $1,702, 4BR $1,712). Department of Labor data lists infant center-based childcare at $10,721 per year, consuming 12% 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 Sunburst, MT include income, housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 16.1% and poverty 5.8% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B+
$92,500
Median household income
Education C+
35.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing A+
1.8x
Home value $164,500 vs income
Commute N/A
N/A
Average commute time
Rent A
$1,230/mo
2BR fair market rent (16% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare B-
$10,721/yr
Center-based infant care (12% of income)

Income & Employment

Median Income
$92,500
▲ 49% vs national
Per Capita Income
$26,100
Unemployment Rate
16.1%
Poverty Rate
5.8%

Housing

Median Home Value
$164,500
▼ 40% vs national
Median Rent
$1,094/mo
Owner Occupied
78.8%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,230/mo
▲ 3% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$918
1BR
$1,052
2BR
$1,230
3BR
$1,702
4BR
$1,712

Safety

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

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
35.5%
▲ 6 ppt vs national
High School+
54.6%
Median Age
21.4
Avg. Commute

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
$10,721/yr
12% of income
Toddler (Center)
$11,127/yr
Preschool (Center)
$9,575/yr
School-Age (Center)
$9,575/yr

What This Means

Sunburst, MT receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (79/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 802. This area performs well in income and housing and rent. Data was unavailable for commute, safety — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Sunburst, MT affordable?
Sunburst, MT receives an overall affordability grade of B+ (79/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $92,500. Median home value is $164,500.
What is the cost of living in Sunburst?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,094/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,230/mo. Infant childcare $10,721/yr. Median home value $164,500.
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 →