The Town FilesBoulder, Montana
City in Jefferson County · population 1,201 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $212,300
- Household income
- $72,500
- Jan low / Jul high
- 12° / 83°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.4
Boulder is a city of 1,201 people in Jefferson County, Montana. The median home is worth $212,300, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for families than 77% of Montana towns, quieter than 72% of Montana towns.
How Boulder 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 Boulder is worth $212,300, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $72,500, which is more affordable than 84% of Montana towns. Median rent is $928 a month. 73.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Boulder | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $212,300 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $928 | $893 |
| Median household income | $72,500 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.3% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1971 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.8% | — |
Who lives in Boulder
| People | Boulder | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.8% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.1% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.8% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 11.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 24.9 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.4% | 86.6% |
Weather in Boulder
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 11.9°F. About 10.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 205 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Boulder since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an EFU, struck on August 6, 2023 about 7.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 6, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on August 4, 2001.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2014 | Flood | DR-4172: Ice Jams And Flooding |
| August 29, 2012 | Fire | FM-5008: Nineteen Mile Fire |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 2,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,570 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Boulder itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Boulder
3 public schools with 516 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson High School | 9-12 | 297 | 14.1 |
| Boulder Elementary School | PK-6 | 166 | 18.4 |
| Boulder 7-8 | 7-8 | 53 | 13.3 |
Towns near Boulder
- Jefferson City, MT10.7 mi · 597 people · home —
- Clancy, MT15.8 mi · 1,851 people · home $469,300
- Montana City, MT21.8 mi · 2,918 people · home $571,200
- South Hills, MT22.9 mi · 644 people · home $703,800
- Walkerville, MT24.4 mi · 639 people · home $148,700
- Helena West Side, MT24.9 mi · 1,331 people · home $402,300
- Whitehall, MT25.2 mi · 1,006 people · home $194,100
- Helena, MT25.3 mi · 32,091 people · home $387,300
Boulder questions
Is Boulder, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Boulder scores better for retirees than 58% of Montana towns and quieter than 72%. 19.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Boulder?
The median owner-occupied home in Boulder is valued at $212,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $72,500, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $928 a month.
What is the weather like in Boulder?
July highs average 82.5°F and January lows 11.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.8 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Boulder get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Boulder since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EFU on August 6, 2023. 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)