The Town FilesFort Benton, Montana
City in Chouteau County · population 1,449 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $247,600
- Household income
- $67,188
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 38 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 42.7
Fort Benton is a city of 1,449 people in Chouteau County, Montana. The median home is worth $247,600, close to the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 84% of Montana towns, better for young professionals than 76% of Montana towns, better for retirees than 74% of Montana towns.
How Fort Benton 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 Fort Benton is worth $247,600, close to the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 3.7 times the median household income of $67,188, which is more affordable than 65% of Montana towns. Median rent is $736 a month. 79.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Fort Benton | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $247,600 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $736 | $893 |
| Median household income | $67,188 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.7× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 79.6% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 8.8% | — |
Who lives in Fort Benton
| People | Fort Benton | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.7 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 32.1% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 30.2% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 3.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 6.5% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 13.7 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 81.4% | 86.6% |
Weather in Fort Benton
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 10.1°F. About 13.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 38.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 31 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 173 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Fort Benton since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, unrated, struck on July 10, 1965 about 7.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 10, 1965.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on July 23, 1992.
Severe weather in Chouteau County since 1996
Chouteau County has been included in 10 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 18, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4801: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| July 10, 2013 | Flood | DR-4127: Flooding |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Chouteau County
Chouteau County had 1,237 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $44,304 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Fort Benton itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Fort Benton
3 public schools with 345 students, about 14.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Benton School | PK-6 | 179 | 13.8 |
| Fort Benton High School | 9-12 | 111 | 15.9 |
| Fort Benton 7-8 | 7-8 | 55 | 13.8 |
Fort Benton questions
Is Fort Benton, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Fort Benton scores better for retirees than 74% of Montana towns and quieter than 67%. 32.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.7).
How much does a house cost in Fort Benton?
The median owner-occupied home in Fort Benton is valued at $247,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $67,188, so homes cost about 3.7 times income. Median rent is $736 a month.
What is the weather like in Fort Benton?
July highs average 86.4°F and January lows 10.1°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.2 inches of precipitation a year and 38.2 inches of snow.
Does Fort Benton get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Fort Benton since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events). 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)