The Town FilesPlentywood, Montana
City in Sheridan County · population 1,669 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $161,000
- Household income
- $68,438
- Jan low / Jul high
- -2° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 31 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 3
- Median age
- 49.2
Plentywood is a city of 1,669 people in Sheridan County, Montana. The median home is worth $161,000, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better transit than 90% of Montana towns, better for cycling than 85% of Montana towns, better for first-time buyers than 80% of Montana towns.
How Plentywood 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 Plentywood is worth $161,000, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 2.4 times the median household income of $68,438, which is more affordable than 89% of Montana towns. Median rent is $760 a month. 66.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Plentywood | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $161,000 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $760 | $893 |
| Median household income | $68,438 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.4× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 66.9% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 18.0% | — |
Who lives in Plentywood
| People | Plentywood | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.2 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.1% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 13.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.2% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 14.7% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 3.9% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.4% | — |
| Work from home | 0.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 9.7 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 86.6% |
Weather in Plentywood
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows -1.8°F. About 14.7 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 31.3 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 21 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 204 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plentywood since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 9, 2018 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 9, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 36 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on May 26, 2014.
Severe weather in Sheridan County since 1996
Sheridan County has been included in 6 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2023 | Flood | DR-4726: Flooding |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| June 17, 2011 | Severe Storm | DR-1996: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3253: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
Jobs and pay in Sheridan County
Sheridan County had 1,276 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $48,594 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Plentywood itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Plentywood
3 public schools with 350 students, about 12.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plentywood School | PK-6 | 197 | 12.3 |
| Plentywood High School | 9-12 | 102 | 12.8 |
| Plentywood 7-8 | 7-8 | 51 | 12.8 |
Plentywood questions
Is Plentywood, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Plentywood scores better for retirees than 41% of Montana towns and quieter than 41%. 26.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.2).
How much does a house cost in Plentywood?
The median owner-occupied home in Plentywood is valued at $161,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $68,438, so homes cost about 2.4 times income. Median rent is $760 a month.
What is the weather like in Plentywood?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows -1.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 14.7 inches of precipitation a year and 31.3 inches of snow.
Does Plentywood get tornadoes?
3 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Plentywood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 9, 2018. 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)