Real Estate Investing in Red Lodge, Montana (59068)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Carbon County • Population: 3,513 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 59068 (Red Lodge, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 36.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 39.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Red Lodge, MT (59068)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $532,809
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,368
% Renters 34.3%

Market Analysis: 59068 Red Lodge

Investors eyeing 59068 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $533K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 59068 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 59068's metrics run below Carbon County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 59068 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 59068 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Red Lodge:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Billings, MT Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.8%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Billings, MT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 59068

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+12.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$174,781/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $293,810 $960 2.4% +10.8% $293,810
2BR $397,056 $1,240 2.2% +11.4% $198,528
3BR $571,651 $1,700 2.1% +11.4% $190,550
4BR $699,123 $1,920 2.0% +11.6% $174,781
5BR $924,167 +12.1% $184,833

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$564K$492K$420K$348K$277K$205KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59068 Compare?

Metric 59068 Red Lodge Billings, MT Montana
Home Value $532,809 $532,809 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 8.0% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.6% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59068? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 59068 (Red Lodge, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.0%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Billings, MT metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
52%
Days Pending
1/2
58 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $532,809
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 39.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.5%
Cap Rate 1.6%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
36.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59068

Population: 3,513

💰 Median Household Income
$55,368
This area
$55,368
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.3%
This area
34.3%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
46.5%
This area
46.5%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.5 years
This area
57.5 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
36.2%
This area
36.2%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 1.3%
👶 Under 18
14.5%
This area
14.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
33.3%
This area
33.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 59068

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
10.4:1 Avg Class Size
$26,051 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Red Lodge High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
176 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$43,356 Per Student
A Very Good

Luther School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
4 Students
👨‍🏫
1.6:1 Class Size
💰
$32,250 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mountain View School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
194 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,298 Per Student
B Good

Roosevelt Junior High

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
123 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,298 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Red Lodge, MT?

Typical homes in Red Lodge, MT go for around $533K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Are renters plentiful in Red Lodge, MT?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Red Lodge, MT. The rental market absorbs $1,116/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What strategy should investors use in Red Lodge, MT?

In Red Lodge, MT the durable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $533K prices and $1,116/mo rents suits that approach.

Can I house hack in Red Lodge, MT?

The house hack math a challenging in Red Lodge, MT. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,116/mo rents and $533K home values.

Are landlord laws favorable in Red Lodge, MT?

Red Lodge, MT falls under MT landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 59068 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 59068 ranks in Billings, MT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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