The Town FilesJefferson City, Montana
Community in Jefferson County · population 597 (2020 Census)
- Household income
- $125,682
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 81°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 55.2
Jefferson City is a community of 597 people in Jefferson County, Montana. It ranks better for families than 77% of Montana towns, quieter than 72% of Montana towns.
How Jefferson City 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
100.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Jefferson City | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | — | $249,800 |
| Median rent | — | $893 |
| Median household income | $125,682 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | —× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 100.0% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 2011 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Jefferson City
| People | Jefferson City | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.5% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 29.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.5% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 0.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.6% | — |
| Work from home | 3.6% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 27.3 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.7% | 86.6% |
Weather in Jefferson City
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 10.3°F. About 17.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 223 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Jefferson City since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 8 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on June 25, 1996.
Severe weather in Jefferson County since 1996
Jefferson County has been included in 11 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| April 17, 2014 | Flood | DR-4172: Ice Jams And Flooding |
| August 29, 2012 | Fire | FM-5008: Nineteen Mile Fire |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Jefferson County
Jefferson County had 2,711 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $54,570 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Jefferson City itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Towns near Jefferson City
- Clancy, MT5.1 mi · 1,851 people · home $469,300
- Boulder, MT10.7 mi · 1,201 people · home $212,300
- Montana City, MT11.1 mi · 2,918 people · home $571,200
- South Hills, MT12.4 mi · 644 people · home $703,800
- Helena, MT15.0 mi · 32,091 people · home $387,300
- East Helena, MT15.2 mi · 1,944 people · home $290,700
- Helena West Side, MT15.6 mi · 1,331 people · home $402,300
- Helena Valley Southeast, MT18.0 mi · 9,168 people · home $331,500
Jefferson City questions
Is Jefferson City, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Jefferson City scores better for retirees than 58% of Montana towns and quieter than 72%. 23.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 55.2).
What is the weather like in Jefferson City?
July highs average 81.4°F and January lows 10.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 17.8 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Jefferson City get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Jefferson City 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)