The Town FilesThree Forks, Montana
City in Gallatin County · population 1,989 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $395,800
- Household income
- $79,784
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 21 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 41.4
Three Forks is a city of 1,989 people in Gallatin County, Montana. The median home is worth $395,800, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks easier by car than 97% of Montana towns, quieter than 75% of Montana towns.
How Three Forks 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 Three Forks is worth $395,800, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 5.0 times the median household income of $79,784, which is more affordable than 38% of Montana towns. Median rent is $1,330 a month. 73.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Three Forks | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $395,800 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $1,330 | $893 |
| Median household income | $79,784 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.0× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.2% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1985 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Three Forks
| People | Three Forks | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.4 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.8% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 18.1% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.0% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 6.2% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 8.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 9.0% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 24.1 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.4% | 86.6% |
Weather in Three Forks
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 13.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 21.3 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 25 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Three Forks since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on May 17, 1994 about 4.5 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 17, 1994.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 2 times; the largest was 1.50 inches on June 6, 2011.
Severe weather in Gallatin County since 1996
Gallatin County has been included in 9 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 5, 2020 | Fire | FM-5346: Bridger Foothills Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| September 13, 2005 | Hurricane | EM-3253: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation |
| July 7, 2001 | Severe Storm | DR-1385: Severe Winter Storms |
Jobs and pay in Gallatin County
Gallatin County had 73,217 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $66,213 a year. Unemployment was 2.1% in 2023; in Three Forks itself the ACS puts it at 0%.
Public schools in Three Forks
3 public schools with 800 students, about 14.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Three Forks Elem School | PK-5 | 370 | 13.7 |
| Three Forks High School | 9-12 | 255 | 15.9 |
| Three Forks 7-8 | 6-8 | 175 | 14.6 |
Towns near Three Forks
- Wheatland, MT5.2 mi · 1,103 people · home $739,000
- Manhattan, MT10.9 mi · 2,086 people · home $517,800
- Ponderosa Pines, MT13.3 mi · 665 people · home —
- Churchill, MT15.1 mi · 1,030 people · home $690,600
- Belgrade, MT19.5 mi · 10,460 people · home $535,200
- Four Corners, MT23.6 mi · 5,901 people · home $648,400
- King Arthur Park, MT25.6 mi · 1,549 people · home —
- Whitehall, MT26.2 mi · 1,006 people · home $194,100
Three Forks questions
Is Three Forks, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Three Forks scores better for retirees than 26% of Montana towns and quieter than 75%. 21.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.4).
How much does a house cost in Three Forks?
The median owner-occupied home in Three Forks is valued at $395,800 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $79,784, so homes cost about 5.0 times income. Median rent is $1,330 a month.
What is the weather like in Three Forks?
July highs average 84.7°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 13.0 inches of precipitation a year and 21.3 inches of snow.
Does Three Forks get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Three Forks since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on May 17, 1994. 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)