The Town FilesBrowning, Montana
Community in Glacier County · population 1,018 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $151,800
- Household income
- $34,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 74°
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 28.2
Browning is a community of 1,018 people in Glacier County, Montana. The median home is worth $151,800, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 87% of Montana towns, more vibrant than 87% of Montana towns, easier by car than 83% of Montana towns.
How Browning 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 Browning is worth $151,800, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $34,250, which is more affordable than 46% of Montana towns. Median rent is $589 a month. 62.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Browning | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $151,800 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $589 | $893 |
| Median household income | $34,250 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 62.2% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1973 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.1% | — |
Who lives in Browning
| People | Browning | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 28.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.0% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 34.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14.9% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 46.4% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 4.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.1% | — |
| Work from home | 3.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 12.3 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.3% | 86.6% |
Weather in Browning
July highs average 73.8°F and January lows 13.1°F. About 30.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year. Expect about 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 201 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Browning since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 13 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on June 18, 2013.
Severe weather in Glacier County since 1996
Glacier County has been included in 12 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, drought.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| May 24, 2016 | Severe Storm | DR-4271: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Glacier County
Glacier County had 4,213 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $51,534 a year. Unemployment was 5.4% in 2023; in Browning itself the ACS puts it at 17.3%.
Public schools in Browning
5 public schools with 1,869 students, about 13.8 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browning High School | 9-12 | 611 | 17.0 |
| Browning Middle School | 6-8 | 371 | 14.8 |
| KW-VC Elementary | PK-1 | 330 | 12.2 |
| Browning Elementary | 2-3 | 287 | 12.0 |
| Napi School | 4-5 | 270 | 11.7 |
Towns near Browning
- South Browning, MT0.7 mi · 1,970 people · home $73,000
- North Browning, MT1.3 mi · 2,653 people · home $187,500
- Heart Butte, MT20.2 mi · 621 people · home $46,300
Browning questions
Is Browning, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Browning scores better for retirees than 2% of Montana towns and quieter than 5%. 9.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 28.2).
How much does a house cost in Browning?
The median owner-occupied home in Browning is valued at $151,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $34,250, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $589 a month.
What is the weather like in Browning?
July highs average 73.8°F and January lows 13.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 30.4 inches of precipitation a year.
Does Browning get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Browning in NOAA's Storm Events Database since 1950.
- 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)