The Town FilesDarby, Montana
Town in Ravalli County · population 783 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $327,100
- Household income
- $43,627
- Jan low / Jul high
- 19° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 88 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 57.2
Darby is a town of 783 people in Ravalli County, Montana. The median home is worth $327,100, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for retirees than 99% of Montana towns, quieter than 93% of Montana towns, better for cycling than 89% of Montana towns.
How Darby 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 Darby is worth $327,100, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 7.5 times the median household income of $43,627, which is more affordable than 11% of Montana towns. Median rent is $889 a month. 44.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Darby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $327,100 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $889 | $893 |
| Median household income | $43,627 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 7.5× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 44.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1978 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.3% | — |
Who lives in Darby
| People | Darby | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 25.6% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 6.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 15.0% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.5% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 5.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 9.8% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 16.6 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 83.2% | 86.6% |
Weather in Darby
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 19.2°F. About 15.1 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 88.4 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 167 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Darby since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 28, 1988.
Severe weather in Ravalli County since 1996
Ravalli County has been included in 13 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 |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| August 17, 2017 | Fire | FM-5197: Lolo Peak Fire |
| August 1, 2016 | Fire | FM-5143: Roaring Lion Fire |
Jobs and pay in Ravalli County
Ravalli County had 13,757 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $52,992 a year. Unemployment was 3.1% in 2023; in Darby itself the ACS puts it at 1.5%.
Public schools in Darby
3 public schools with 337 students, about 13.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Darby School | PK-6 | 175 | 13.5 |
| Darby High School | 9-12 | 112 | 12.4 |
| Darby 7-8 | 7-8 | 50 | 16.7 |
Towns near Darby
- Hamilton, MT15.8 mi · 4,659 people · home $310,000
- Corvallis, MT20.3 mi · 1,125 people · home $249,800
- Pinesdale, MT21.5 mi · 805 people · home $230,000
- Victor, MT27.1 mi · 789 people · home $238,500
Darby questions
Is Darby, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Darby scores better for retirees than 99% of Montana towns and quieter than 93%. 25.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 57.2).
How much does a house cost in Darby?
The median owner-occupied home in Darby is valued at $327,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $43,627, so homes cost about 7.5 times income. Median rent is $889 a month.
What is the weather like in Darby?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 19.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.1 inches of precipitation a year and 88.4 inches of snow.
Does Darby get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Darby 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)