In Great Falls, a typical home is worth $257,000 and typical rent is $900 a month. Compared with all of Cascade County, typical household income is 6% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $238,644 to $337,936.
Typical rent
$1,433a month
▲ 4.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,060 to $1,433.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Great Falls is in Cascade County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Cascade County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Nearby, in Lewistown, the typical home value is $198,400: 23% less than in Great Falls ($257,000).
2
Great Falls has the 3rd lowest typical rent of the 26 cities in Montana with more than 5,000 people ($900).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Great Falls
What homes there are in Great Falls, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).
What homes there are
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Kind of home
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
United States
Kind of home: Great Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
United States
Detached house
65%
67%
69%
61%
Attached house
4%
6%
5%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
7%
7%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
18%
13%
10%
19%
Mobile home
4%
7%
9%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
As in Cascade County, most homes in Great Falls are detached houses (65%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
United States
Year built: Great Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
United States
Before 1960
42%
37%
26%
26%
1960–1979
30%
29%
23%
24%
1980–1999
14%
17%
23%
25%
2000–2009
8%
9%
14%
14%
2010 or later
7%
8%
14%
11%
Homes in Great Falls are older: the typical year built is 1965; in Cascade County, 1970.
In Great Falls, 16% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 56% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 59% in Cascade County.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $100K7%
$100K–$200K23%
$200K–$300K33%
$300K–$500K30%
$500K–$750K6%
FHA limit: $541,287
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Great Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Great Falls
Under $100K
7%
$100K–$200K
23%
$200K–$300K
33%
$300K–$500K
30%
$500K–$750K
6%
$750K–$1M
Unreliable estimate
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
The FHA loan limit for Cascade County is $541,287, and about 94% of owner-occupied homes in Great Falls are worth less than that.
Monthly rent with utilities
Under the limitOver the limitUnreliable estimate
Under $50016%
$500–$99946%
$1,000–$1,49925%
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms: $1,308
$1,500–$1,9998%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or more2%
Monthly rent with utilities: Great Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Great Falls
Under $500
16%
$500–$999
46%
$1,000–$1,499
25%
$1,500–$1,999
8%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
2%
About 78% of rented homes in Great Falls cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent for Cascade County ($1,308).
With a mortgage
$1,501 a month
Cascade County: $1,538 a month
Without a mortgage
$530 a month
Cascade County: $526 a month
Owners with a mortgage
61%
Cascade County: 59%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Great Falls is $1,501 a month, near the figure in Cascade County ($1,538).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Great Falls+46%
Cascade County+48%
Montana+63%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Great Falls+24%
Cascade County+22%
Montana+34%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Great Falls+35%
Cascade County+36%
Montana+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Great Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
United States
Typical home value
+46%
+48%
+63%
+53%
Typical rent
+24%
+22%
+34%
+33%
Typical household income
+35%
+36%
+32%
+29%
The typical home value in Great Falls rose 46% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Cascade County (48%).
Rents in Great Falls rose at about the same pace as in Cascade County: 24% since 2015–2019, against 22%.
The typical household income in Great Falls rose 35% over that time; home values changed +46% and rent +24%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Great Falls and its comparisons
Measure
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.9%
5.3%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.9%
More than one person per room
1.0%
1.1%
1.8%
3.4%
People per household
2.21
2.30
2.37
2.53
Drive alone
79%
77%
71%
69%
Carpool
10%
10%
10%
9%
Public transit
1%
1%
1%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
3%
5%
3%
Work from home
7%
7%
13%
15%
Other means
1%
1%
1%
2%
Typical commute
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
10 to 19 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In Great Falls, 1.0% of households live with more than one person per room, about the same as in Cascade County.
By size, households in Great Falls look like those in Cascade County: 2.21 people on average.
The car rules in Great Falls: 79% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Great Falls?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Great Falls, worth $257,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 40% of the typical household income in Great Falls, which is $63,373 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $91,168 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Cascade County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Great Falls. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $8,995 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$2,127
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$252,345
Total interest
$363,065
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $4,340 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,479 a month
Tight
$1,479 to $1,901 a month
Hard
more than $1,901 a month
Your payment · 40%
Compared with the typical household income in Great Falls ($63,373 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,709
Property tax
$197
Home insurance
$107
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$114
You need at least $8,995 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.
Total monthly payment $2,127; principal and interest $1,709.
The city and its county
Great Falls and Cascade County
Great Falls is in Cascade County, Montana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).
Great Falls
Map of Cascade County, Montana, with Great Falls marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Great Falls
Cascade County
Other cities with a page
Great Falls's own numbers
Typical home value
$257,000
Typical monthly rent
$900
Typical yearly household income
$63,373
Households that own their home
66%
Effective property tax rate
0.92%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Cascade County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,308
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+64%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
4.1%
HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.
Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Cascade County.
A typical home in Great Falls is worth $257,000: 3% below the county and 32% below Montana. With the typical household income in Great Falls ($63,373 a year), a typical home costs 4.1 times what the household earns in a year.
Years of income to pay for a typical home
The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.
Great Falls4.1 years
Cascade3.9 years
Montana5.2 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Cascade County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Cascade County rose 95% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Cascade County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Cascade County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +2.4% +2.4% 2016
2017: +4.1% +4.1% 2017
2018: +4.6% +4.6% 2018
2019: +2.3% +2.3% 2019
2020: +3.9% +3.9% 2020
2021: +12.3% +12.3% 2021
2022: +20.8% +20.8% 2022
2023: +10.4% +10.4% 2023
2024: +6.6% +6.6% 2024
2025: +2.9% +2.9% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Cascade County, Montana and the United States
Period
County
Montana
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.9%
+2.3%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+64%
+62%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+95%
+105%
+85%
The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data
Great Falls next to Cascade County, Montana and the U.S.
Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.
Typical home value
Great Falls$257,000
Cascade$265,300
Montana$375,800
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Great Falls$900
Cascade$939
Montana$1,081
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Great Falls$63,373
Cascade$67,690
Montana$72,509
United States$80,734
See the full table
Great Falls next to Cascade County and Montana
Measure
Great Falls
Cascade County
Montana
U.S.
Typical home value
$257,000 ▼3% below the county
$265,300
$375,800
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$900 ▼4% below the county
$939
$1,081
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$63,373 ▼6% below the county
$67,690
$72,509
$80,734
Households that own their home
66% ▼2 points below the county
69%
69%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$2,370 ▲2% above the county
$2,320
$2,693
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.92% ▲0.05 points above the county
0.87%
0.72%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46% ▲1 points above the county
44%
45%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Cascade County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Great Falls
For a typical $257,000 home in Great Falls, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Great Falls's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$2,127a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$8,995
Cash to close
$16,705
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $114
Conventional, 5% down$2,080a month
Down payment
$12,850
Cash to close
$20,560
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $122
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,697a month
Down payment
$51,400
Cash to close
$59,110
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,935a month
Down payment
$38,550
Cash to close
$46,260
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Great Falls
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$2,127
$8,995
$252,345
7.18%
FHA MIP · $114
$16,705
580
Conventional, 5% down
$2,080
$12,850
$244,150
7.18%
PMI · $122
$20,560
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,697
$51,400
$205,600
7.18%
None
$59,110
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,935
$38,550
$218,450
8.18%
None
$46,260
Set by the lender
The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.
Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.
Typical rent in Great Falls is $900 a month: 4% below the county. In Great Falls, 46% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Cascade County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,308 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.15 an hour working full time.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Cascade County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$993
$19.10
$39,720
1 bedroom
$1,000
$19.23
$40,000
2 bedrooms
$1,308
$25.15
$52,320
3 bedrooms
$1,811
$34.83
$72,440
4 bedrooms
$1,988
$38.23
$79,520
Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027
By ZIP code
Fair market rent by ZIP code in Great Falls
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Great Falls has 3 ZIP codes with their own.
For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,160 in 59401 to $1,550 in 59404.
2 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Cascade County ($1,308).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each of the 3 ZIP codes of Great Falls, beside the one for Cascade County. For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,160 in 59401 to $1,550 in 59404. 2 of the 3 are above the fair market rent for Cascade County ($1,308).
2-bedroom fair market rent in each ZIP code
Each line is one ZIP code: in color, those above the county's fair market rent; in gray, the rest.
County: $1,308
Lowest: $1,160 (59401)Highest: $1,550 (59404)
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Great Falls, fiscal year 2027.
59401
$870
$890
$1,160
$1,610
$1,840
59404
$1,180
$1,190
$1,550
$2,150
$2,360
59405
$1,000
$1,010
$1,320
$1,830
$2,010
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
59401 $1,160$1,610
59404 $1,550$2,150
59405 $1,320$1,830
2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Great Falls when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD)Fiscal year 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
HUD lists 28 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Great Falls. These are the largest.
Parkdale 2501 15th St S, Great Falls 59405200 low-income homes · Run by Great Falls Housing Authority · Average payment: $429 a month · Average wait: 35 months(406) 453-4311
Parkdale 11718 Chowen Springs Loop, Great Falls 59405156 homes, 155 low-income · Run by Great Falls Housing Authority · Average payment: $395 a month · Average wait: 11 months(406) 453-4311
Autumn Run Apartment4101 Central Ave, Great Falls 59405120 low-income homes · 1 bd: 30 · 2 bd: 80 · 3 bd: 10 · In service since 1999 · For families
Park Manor100 Central Ave, Great Falls 59401103 low-income homes · For older adults(406) 761-1444
River Run ApartmentsScattered Site, Great Falls 5940596 low-income homes · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 80 · In service since 2016 · For families
You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.
There are 3 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Cascade County; none says it serves in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Great Falls or Cascade County. The ones below are statewide in Montana: they work in Great Falls the same as in the rest of the state.
Montana Board of Housing loan for up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) for the down payment, over 15 years with low payments and the same rate as the bond program's first mortgage; there is also a Plus version, 0% and deferred, for lower incomes.Offered by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).
Montana Board of Housing certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, up to $2,000 a year, while you live in the home; for first-time buyers, with a loan that is not from another Board program.Offered by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).
No legal help resource on our list is for Great Falls or Cascade County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Great Falls and all of Cascade County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.
How much does a typical home cost in Great Falls?
The typical home value in Great Falls is $257,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Cascade County it is $265,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Great Falls?
Typical rent in Great Falls is $900 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Cascade County is $1,308.
What is the FHA loan limit in Great Falls?
Great Falls uses the FHA limit for all of Cascade County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Great Falls?
The typical homeowner in Great Falls pays $2,370 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.92% of the home’s value; in Cascade County, the rate is 0.87%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Great Falls?
There are 3 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Cascade County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
