The Town FilesColumbus, Montana
Town in Stillwater County · population 1,857 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $282,800
- Household income
- $65,250
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 47.2
Columbus is a town of 1,857 people in Stillwater County, Montana. The median home is worth $282,800, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better transit than 95% of Montana towns, quieter than 85% of Montana towns.
How Columbus 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 Columbus is worth $282,800, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $65,250, which is more affordable than 48% of Montana towns. Median rent is $945 a month. 76.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Columbus | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $282,800 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $945 | $893 |
| Median household income | $65,250 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 76.7% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1969 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Columbus
| People | Columbus | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 27.4% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 19.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.0% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 11.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 13.1% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.9% | — |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 27.0 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.7% | 86.6% |
Weather in Columbus
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.0°F. About 15.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 47.6 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 28 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 183 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Columbus since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 48 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 6, 2011.
Severe weather in Stillwater County since 1996
Stillwater County has been included in 16 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 |
| October 11, 2023 | Flood | DR-4745: Flooding |
| June 16, 2022 | Flood | DR-4655: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| August 2, 2020 | Fire | FM-5324: Falling Star Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Stillwater County
Stillwater County had 3,401 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $75,084 a year. Unemployment was 2.4% in 2023; in Columbus itself the ACS puts it at 3.1%.
Public schools in Columbus
3 public schools with 736 students, about 16.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus Elem School | PK-5 | 320 | 16.0 |
| Columbus High School | 9-12 | 240 | 17.1 |
| Columbus Middle School | 6-8 | 176 | 17.6 |
Towns near Columbus
- Absarokee, MT12.5 mi · 1,000 people · home $292,000
- Park City, MT15.6 mi · 1,023 people · home $219,500
- Joliet, MT17.0 mi · 577 people · home $235,500
- Laurel, MT22.9 mi · 7,222 people · home $235,100
- Bridger, MT28.5 mi · 662 people · home $250,000
Columbus questions
Is Columbus, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Columbus scores better for retirees than 29% of Montana towns and quieter than 85%. 27.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 47.2).
How much does a house cost in Columbus?
The median owner-occupied home in Columbus is valued at $282,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $65,250, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $945 a month.
What is the weather like in Columbus?
July highs average 85.4°F and January lows 10.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.5 inches of precipitation a year and 47.6 inches of snow.
Does Columbus get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Columbus 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)