The Town FilesRonan, Montana
City in Lake County · population 1,955 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $225,500
- Household income
- $42,298
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 62 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 0
- Median age
- 37.7
Ronan is a city of 1,955 people in Lake County, Montana. The median home is worth $225,500, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 91% of Montana towns, better for young professionals than 73% of Montana towns, more walkable than 71% of Montana towns.
How Ronan 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 Ronan is worth $225,500, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 5.3 times the median household income of $42,298, which is more affordable than 32% of Montana towns. Median rent is $880 a month. 60.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Ronan | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $225,500 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $880 | $893 |
| Median household income | $42,298 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.3× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 60.3% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.2% | — |
Who lives in Ronan
| People | Ronan | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.4% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 26.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 20.0% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 21.6% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 11.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 5.8% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 15.4 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 78.3% | 86.6% |
Weather in Ronan
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 22.0°F. About 15.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 62.1 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 147 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
NOAA's Storm Events Database has no tornado within 10 miles of Ronan since 1950.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 31, 2010.
Severe weather in Lake County since 1996
Lake County has been included in 8 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 |
| May 24, 2019 | Flood | DR-4437: Flooding |
| April 17, 2014 | Flood | DR-4172: Ice Jams And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lake County
Lake County had 9,768 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $50,280 a year. Unemployment was 3.6% in 2023; in Ronan itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Ronan
3 public schools with 1,209 students, about 15.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ronan Middle School | 5-8 | 435 | 15.0 |
| K William Harvey Elem | PK-4 | 401 | 14.9 |
| Ronan High School | 9-12 | 373 | 16.2 |
Towns near Ronan
- Pablo, MT5.3 mi · 2,138 people · home $256,700
- Polson, MT11.4 mi · 5,148 people · home $356,300
- St. Ignatius, MT14.5 mi · 768 people · home $250,000
- Finley Point, MT15.4 mi · 532 people · home $555,100
- Arlee, MT24.8 mi · 720 people · home $261,400
- Hot Springs, MT27.1 mi · 557 people · home $150,900
Ronan questions
Is Ronan, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Ronan scores better for retirees than 14% of Montana towns and quieter than 13%. 21.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Ronan?
The median owner-occupied home in Ronan is valued at $225,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $42,298, so homes cost about 5.3 times income. Median rent is $880 a month.
What is the weather like in Ronan?
July highs average 82.8°F and January lows 22.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 15.0 inches of precipitation a year and 62.1 inches of snow.
Does Ronan get tornadoes?
No tornado has been recorded within 10 miles of Ronan 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)