The Town FilesBaker, Montana
City in Fallon County · population 1,802 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $211,400
- Household income
- $84,750
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 36 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 8
- Median age
- 35.4
Baker is a city of 1,802 people in Fallon County, Montana. The median home is worth $211,400, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks easier by car than 87% of Montana towns.
How Baker ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Baker is worth $211,400, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 2.5 times the median household income of $84,750, which is more affordable than 87% of Montana towns. Median rent is $776 a month. 63.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Baker | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $211,400 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $776 | $893 |
| Median household income | $84,750 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.5× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 63.4% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1980 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 12.9% | — |
Who lives in Baker
| People | Baker | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.0% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 12.5% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 3.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 5.6% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 86.6% |
Weather in Baker
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 6.8°F. About 14.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 35.8 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 39 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 182 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baker since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. 2 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 11, 2016 about 0.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 2016.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 9, 2007.
Severe weather in Fallon County since 1996
Fallon County has been included in 8 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| August 3, 2016 | Tornado | DR-4275: Tornado |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| June 13, 2008 | Severe Storm | DR-1767: Severe Winter Storm |
Jobs and pay in Fallon County
Fallon County had 1,259 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,334 a year. Unemployment was 1.7% in 2023; in Baker itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Baker
4 public schools with 450 students, about 12.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longfellow School | 3-6 | 152 | 16.9 |
| Baker High School | 9-12 | 122 | 15.3 |
| Lincoln School | PK-2 | 106 | 10.6 |
| Baker 7-8 | 7-8 | 70 | 8.8 |
Baker questions
Is Baker, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Baker scores better for retirees than 53% of Montana towns and quieter than 61%. 20.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.4).
How much does a house cost in Baker?
The median owner-occupied home in Baker is valued at $211,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,750, so homes cost about 2.5 times income. Median rent is $776 a month.
What is the weather like in Baker?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 6.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.7 inches of precipitation a year and 35.8 inches of snow.
Does Baker get tornadoes?
8 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Baker since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 11, 2016. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)