Chinook, Montana
AffordabilityAffordability: grade B, better than 66% of US places
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 55% of US places
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade C, better than 43% of US places
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 32% of US places
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade C, better than 48% of US places
- top 2% for sales tax
- top 4% for park & nature access
- bottom 1% for airport distance
Chinook is a small community in Montana with about 1,488 residents. It grades B for affordability and C for getting around. Standout strengths include sales tax, park & nature access, and monthly rent. It rates lower on comfortable days and airport distance.
- The median home value in Chinook is $175k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Chinook is $47k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Chinook is $542 a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Chinook has a violent crime rate of 853/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- July temperatures in Chinook average around 70°F, per the NOAA nClimGrid.
Climate
Warm, dry summers · Harsh winters · Dry · Heavy snow
freez.
very cold
cool
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warm
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warm
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cool
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87%61%clearovercast
Precipitation 1.9 in0.4 in
dry
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$47k23rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$49kbetter than 35% of US places
Home Value$175k54th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$542better than 95% of US places
Monthly Owner Costs$500better than 37% of US places
Property Tax Rate1.23%better than 37% of US places
Income Tax5.90%better than 33% of US places
Sales Tax0.00%better than 98% of US places
Estimated total tax burden10.46%better than 41% of US places
Unemployment2.3%better than 65% of US places
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)18°F9th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)70°F12th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation13.4 in6th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall41.0 inbetter than 21% of US places
Sunny Days257 daysbetter than 77% of US places
Summer Humidity48°Fbetter than 91% of US places
Comfortable Days48 daysbetter than 9% of US places
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk79.9better than 26% of US places
Air Quality44 AQIbetter than 61% of US places
School Quality58.3better than 50% of US places
Violent Crime853/100kbetter than 43% of US places
Property Crime767/100kbetter than 58% of US places
Community
Population1,48859th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.251st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.1234th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio1.0769th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)93.8%73rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)1.7%64th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)0.0%13th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)0.0%27th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)4.6%67th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Walkability8.0/20better than 73% of US places
Airport Distance389 mibetter than 1% of US places
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access75.0%better than 20% of US places
Amenities Nearby40.32better than 35% of US places
Park & Nature AccessExcellentbetter than 96% of US places
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Similar places
Frequently asked questions
- Is Chinook an affordable place to live?
- Chinook is relatively expensive. Its cost-of-living index is $49k, better than 35% of comparable areas. Median rent is $542.
- Is Chinook safe?
- Chinook is about average for safety comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 853/100k (better than 43%). Property crime is 767/100k.
- What is the weather like in Chinook?
- Chinook averages 70°F in July and 18°F in January, with 13.4 in of annual precipitation and about 257 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Chinook?
- Public-school quality in Chinook is about average, scoring better than 50% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.