The Town FilesSouth Hills, Montana
Community in Jefferson County · population 644 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $703,800
- Household income
- $168,235
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 48.9
South Hills is a community of 644 people in Jefferson County, Montana. The median home is worth $703,800, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks more upscale than 100% of Montana towns, better for families than 99% of Montana towns, more of a college town than 78% of Montana towns.
How South Hills 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 South Hills is worth $703,800, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.2 times the median household income of $168,235, which is more affordable than 51% of Montana towns. 97.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Hills | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $703,800 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | — | $893 |
| Median household income | $168,235 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.2× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 97.3% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 2001 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in South Hills
| People | South Hills | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.9 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 10.6% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 23.9% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 51.9% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 1.0% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 0.0% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 14.2 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.6% | 86.6% |
Weather in South Hills
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 11.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hills since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 27, 1997 about 2.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 55 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 6, 1997.
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 South Hills itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Towns near South Hills
- Helena, MT2.9 mi · 32,091 people · home $387,300
- Montana City, MT3.8 mi · 2,918 people · home $571,200
- East Helena, MT4.1 mi · 1,944 people · home $290,700
- Helena West Side, MT6.3 mi · 1,331 people · home $402,300
- Helena Valley Southeast, MT6.5 mi · 9,168 people · home $331,500
- Clancy, MT7.4 mi · 1,851 people · home $469,300
- Helena Valley West Central, MT7.7 mi · 8,670 people · home $367,200
- Helena Valley Northeast, MT10.7 mi · 3,813 people · home $576,700
South Hills questions
Is South Hills, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Hills scores better for retirees than 65% of Montana towns and quieter than 48%. 10.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.9).
How much does a house cost in South Hills?
The median owner-occupied home in South Hills is valued at $703,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $168,235, so homes cost about 4.2 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in South Hills?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does South Hills get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hills since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 27, 1997. 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)