Columbus vs Fromberg
Columbus, Montana versus Fromberg, Montana: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Fromberg edges out Columbus on overall objective livability (50 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Columbus | Fromberg |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $59k | $58k |
| Cost of Living | $50k | $48k |
| Home Value | $238k | $143k |
| Monthly Rent | $812 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $639 | $156 |
| Property Tax Rate | 0.63% | 0.77% |
| Income Tax | 5.90% | 5.90% |
| Sales Tax | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 8.41% | 7.81% |
| Unemployment | 5.0% | 17.2% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 26°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 71°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.5 in | 13.8 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 47.6 in | 30.3 in |
| Sunny Days | 232 days | 232 days |
| Summer Humidity | 48°F | 48°F |
| Comfortable Days | 42 days | 48 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 76.8 | 76.0 |
| Air Quality | 22 AQI | 22 AQI |
| School Quality | 45.4 | 86.7 |
| Violent Crime | 1074/100k | 0/100k |
| Property Crime | 1503/100k | 0/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 1,932 | 409 |
| Median Age | 46.5 | 45.9 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.13 | 0.22 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.95 | 1.20 |
| Political Leaning | R+59 | R+30 |
| White (%) | 90.8% | 85.8% |
| Black (%) | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| Hispanic (%) | 5.2% | 9.5% |
| Asian (%) | 1.2% | 0.0% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 2.8% | 4.6% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | — | 28 min |
| Walkability | 6.4/20 | 5.8/20 |
| Airport Distance | 362 mi | 354 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 84.8% | 72.4% |
| Amenities Nearby | 46.58 | 73.35 |
| Park & Nature Access | Limited | Limited |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Columbus or Fromberg more affordable?
- Fromberg has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Columbus's $50k and Fromberg's $48k. Median rent is $812 in Columbus versus $1k in Fromberg.
- Is Columbus or Fromberg safer?
- Fromberg has the lower violent crime rate. Columbus reports 1074/100k and Fromberg reports 0/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Columbus or Fromberg?
- The median home value is $238k in Columbus and $143k in Fromberg, so homes are more affordable in Fromberg.