The Town FilesJoliet, Montana
Town in Carbon County · population 577 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $235,500
- Household income
- $77,396
- Jan low / Jul high
- 10° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 51 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 38.5
Joliet is a town of 577 people in Carbon County, Montana. The median home is worth $235,500, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for families than 93% of Montana towns, quieter than 88% of Montana towns, easier by car than 80% of Montana towns.
How Joliet 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 Joliet is worth $235,500, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 3.0 times the median household income of $77,396, which is more affordable than 80% of Montana towns. Median rent is $718 a month. 86.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Joliet | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $235,500 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $718 | $893 |
| Median household income | $77,396 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.0× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 86.1% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Joliet
| People | Joliet | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.5 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.2% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 20.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 19.1% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 15.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.8% | — |
| Work from home | 15.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 26.3 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 80.2% | 86.6% |
Weather in Joliet
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 9.8°F. About 14.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 50.9 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 29 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 185 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Joliet since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 19 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 28, 2025.
Severe weather in Carbon County since 1996
Carbon 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 |
| October 11, 2023 | Flood | DR-4745: Flooding |
| June 16, 2022 | Flood | DR-4655: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| June 16, 2021 | Fire | FM-5392: Robertson Draw Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
Jobs and pay in Carbon County
Carbon County had 3,052 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $47,497 a year. Unemployment was 2.8% in 2023; in Joliet itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Joliet
3 public schools with 408 students, about 13.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joliet School | PK-5 | 166 | 11.9 |
| Joliet High School | 9-12 | 140 | 14.0 |
| Joliet Middle School | 6-8 | 102 | 14.6 |
Towns near Joliet
- Park City, MT10.4 mi · 1,023 people · home $219,500
- Bridger, MT13.4 mi · 662 people · home $250,000
- Laurel, MT16.2 mi · 7,222 people · home $235,100
- Columbus, MT17.0 mi · 1,857 people · home $282,800
- Pryor, MT22.0 mi · 637 people · home $90,700
- Absarokee, MT23.6 mi · 1,000 people · home $292,000
- Red Lodge, MT24.2 mi · 2,257 people · home $380,700
- Billings, MT29.2 mi · 117,116 people · home $343,400
Joliet questions
Is Joliet, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Joliet scores better for retirees than 64% of Montana towns and quieter than 88%. 16.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 38.5).
How much does a house cost in Joliet?
The median owner-occupied home in Joliet is valued at $235,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $77,396, so homes cost about 3.0 times income. Median rent is $718 a month.
What is the weather like in Joliet?
July highs average 85.7°F and January lows 9.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.5 inches of precipitation a year and 50.9 inches of snow.
Does Joliet get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Joliet 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)