Real Estate Investing in Choteau, Montana (59436)

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

Teton County • Population: 2,093 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59436 (Choteau, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.5 — 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 Choteau, MT (59436)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $445,917
Avg Monthly Rent $1,350
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,292
% Renters 21.0%

Market Analysis: 59436 Choteau

The 59436 ZIP covers a section of Choteau that demands careful diligence. Prices near $446K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 59436 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 59436's metrics run below Teton County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 59436 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Choteau's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 59436. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Choteau:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,350/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Helena, MT Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.4%
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 Helena, MT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 59436

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$125,097/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $276,984 $1,500 3.9% +12.1% $138,492
3BR $380,932 $2,080 3.9% +11.4% $126,977
4BR $500,388 $2,390 3.4% $125,097

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$471K$398K$325K$252K$179K$106KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59436 Compare?

Metric 59436 Choteau Helena, MT Montana
Home Value $445,917 $378,305 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 9.3% 8.9% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,350 $1,260 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59436? 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 59436 (Choteau, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.3%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Helena, MT metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $445,917
Monthly Rent $1,350
Price-to-Rent 27.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
9.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59436

Population: 2,093

💰 Median Household Income
$77,292
This area
$77,292
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.0%
This area
21.0%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.2%
This area
27.2%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.0 years
This area
35.0 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.5%
Other/Mixed 7.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.7%
Black/African American 1.9%
👶 Under 18
29.3%
This area
29.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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 59436

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
10.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,585 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Fairfield High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
116 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Greenfield School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
62 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,077 Per Student
B Good

Fairfield Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
168 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,874 Per Student
B Good

Fairfield 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
40 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,874 Per Student
B Good

Golden Ridge School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
7 Students
👨‍🏫
1.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,489 Per Student
B Good

Greenfield 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
22 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,077 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 real estate in Choteau, MT a good investment right now?

Investors tracking Choteau, MT will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $446K median home values and $1,350/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Choteau, MT?

Working renters make up the core of the Choteau, MT tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What is the typical rental rate in Choteau, MT?

Expect rents around $1,350/mo per month in Choteau, MT. With home values at $446K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Choteau, MT?

Rental vacancy in Choteau, MT is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Which real estate strategy fits Choteau, MT?

Choteau, MT investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($446K prices, $1,350/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 59436 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 59436 ranks in Helena, MT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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