The Town FilesTownsend, Montana
City in Broadwater County · population 1,787 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $227,600
- Household income
- $70,752
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 1
- Median age
- 49.1
Townsend is a city of 1,787 people in Broadwater County, Montana. The median home is worth $227,600, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks hipper than 92% of Montana towns, better for cycling than 92% of Montana towns, more walkable than 91% of Montana towns.
How Townsend 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 Townsend is worth $227,600, below the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 3.2 times the median household income of $70,752, which is more affordable than 74% of Montana towns. Median rent is $952 a month. 73.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Townsend | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $227,600 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $952 | $893 |
| Median household income | $70,752 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.2× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 73.2% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 3.5% | — |
Who lives in Townsend
| People | Townsend | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.1 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 17.6% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21.5% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.6% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.0% | — |
| Work from home | 13.5% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 31.1 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 84.3% | 86.6% |
Weather in Townsend
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 13.7°F. About 10.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.7 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 14 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 Townsend since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 12, 1992 about 2.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 12, 1992.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 7 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 10, 2019.
Severe weather in Broadwater County since 1996
Broadwater County has been included in 12 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 |
| July 12, 2024 | Fire | FM-5507: Horse Gulch Fire |
| 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 |
Jobs and pay in Broadwater County
Broadwater County had 1,490 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $45,076 a year. Unemployment was 3.5% in 2023; in Townsend itself the ACS puts it at 13.3%.
Public schools in Townsend
3 public schools with 700 students, about 13.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cecelia Hazelton School | PK-6 | 399 | 14.3 |
| Broadwater High School | 9-12 | 182 | 12.1 |
| Townsend 7-8 | 7-8 | 119 | 14.9 |
Towns near Townsend
- The Silos, MT6.3 mi · 691 people · home $367,300
- Ponderosa Pines, MT21.1 mi · 665 people · home —
- Montana City, MT24.3 mi · 2,918 people · home $571,200
- Jefferson City, MT24.7 mi · 597 people · home —
- Clancy, MT24.7 mi · 1,851 people · home $469,300
- Wheatland, MT24.8 mi · 1,103 people · home $739,000
- East Helena, MT26.5 mi · 1,944 people · home $290,700
- Helena Valley Southeast, MT27.7 mi · 9,168 people · home $331,500
Townsend questions
Is Townsend, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Townsend scores better for retirees than 31% of Montana towns and quieter than 41%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 49.1).
How much does a house cost in Townsend?
The median owner-occupied home in Townsend is valued at $227,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $70,752, so homes cost about 3.2 times income. Median rent is $952 a month.
What is the weather like in Townsend?
July highs average 83.4°F and January lows 13.7°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 10.6 inches of precipitation a year and 23.7 inches of snow.
Does Townsend get tornadoes?
1 tornado has passed within 10 miles of Townsend since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 12, 1992. 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)