The Town FilesBusby, Montana
Community in Big Horn County · population 719 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $133,600
- Household income
- $46,071
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 52 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 32.2
Busby is a community of 719 people in Big Horn County, Montana. The median home is worth $133,600, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for young professionals than 73% of Montana towns.
How Busby 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 Busby is worth $133,600, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $46,071, which is more affordable than 84% of Montana towns. Median rent is $405 a month. 37.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Busby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $133,600 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $405 | $893 |
| Median household income | $46,071 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 37.8% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Busby
| People | Busby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 0.0% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.2% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 28.4% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 0.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.3% | 86.6% |
Weather in Busby
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 8.5°F. About 15.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 52.3 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 38 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 193 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Busby since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 19, 2015.
Severe weather in Big Horn County since 1996
Big Horn County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 7, 2026 | Straight-Line Winds | DR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds |
| July 28, 2021 | Fire | FM-5403: Pf Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Big Horn County
Big Horn County had 3,743 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $55,992 a year. Unemployment was 4.4% in 2023; in Busby itself the ACS puts it at 17.3%.
Towns near Busby
- Muddy, MT10.5 mi · 646 people · home $163,800
- Lame Deer, MT18.7 mi · 1,897 people · home $111,100
- Crow Agency, MT23.9 mi · 1,657 people · home $58,800
Busby questions
Is Busby, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Busby scores better for retirees than 4% of Montana towns and quieter than 25%. 0.0% of residents are 65 or older (median age 32.2).
How much does a house cost in Busby?
The median owner-occupied home in Busby is valued at $133,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $46,071, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $405 a month.
What is the weather like in Busby?
July highs average 88.4°F and January lows 8.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.7 inches of precipitation a year and 52.3 inches of snow.
Does Busby get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Busby 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)