Real Estate Investing in Great Falls, Montana (59404)

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

Cascade County • Population: 28,127 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59404 (Great Falls, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Great Falls, MT (59404)?

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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 $394,674
Avg Monthly Rent $1,608
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,829
% Renters 15.1%

Market Analysis: 59404 Great Falls

ZIP 59404 in Great Falls, MT carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $395K and rents of $1,608/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 59404 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 59404 among MT's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 59404 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategically, 59404 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 Great Falls:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,608/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
Great Falls, MT Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.2%
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 Great Falls, MT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 59404

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$101,177/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $186,650 $1,090 4.2% +10.2% $186,650
2BR $256,592 $1,430 4.0% +10.3% $128,296
3BR $361,968 $1,990 4.0% +9.8% $120,656
4BR $404,707 $2,270 4.0% +9.3% $101,177
5BR $515,677 +9.2% $103,135

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$413K$361K$310K$259K$207K$156KJun 2007Jan 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,867$1,754$1,640$1,526$1,412$1,299Apr 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59404 Compare?

Metric 59404 Great Falls Great Falls, MT Montana
Home Value $394,674 $203,150 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 8.2% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,608 $1,416 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59404? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 59404 (Great Falls, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Great Falls, 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 $394,674
Monthly Rent $1,608
Price-to-Rent 20.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +10.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59404

Population: 28,127

💰 Median Household Income
$77,829
This area
$77,829
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.0%
This area
31.0%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.3%
Other/Mixed 8.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.1%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 0.6%
👶 Under 18
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 59404

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
17.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,283 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

North Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
720 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,469 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,469 Per Student
B Good

Valley View School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,469 Per Student
B Good

C M Russell High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,452 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,166 Per Student
B Good

Meadow Lark School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
531 Students
👨‍🏫
21.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,469 Per Student
B Good

Riverview School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,469 Per Student
B Good

Sacajawea School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,469 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 790 Off-Campus Students
C
Montana Academy of Salons
147 students · 9.4 mi
C
University of Providence
677 students · 10.4 mi
C
Great Falls College Montana State University
1,318 students · 10.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 790 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Great Falls, MT a good place for real estate investing?

Yes - Great Falls, MT a 3.0/5 investability score. With $395K home prices against $1,608/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Where do rents currently stand in Great Falls, MT?

Investors in Great Falls, MT typically see rents near $1,608/mo per month against $395K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Is Great Falls, MT landlord-friendly?

MT ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Great Falls generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Which investment style suits Great Falls, MT?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Great Falls, MT. With home values at $395K and rents near $1,608/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

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

Occupancy in Great Falls, MT runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,608/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 59404 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 59404 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 59404 ranks in Great Falls, MT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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