Real Estate Investing in Fort Shaw, Montana (59443)

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

Cascade County • Population: 692 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59443 (Fort Shaw, 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 26.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 30.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Fort Shaw, MT (59443)?

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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 $503,578
Avg Monthly Rent $1,251
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,071
% Renters 22.3%

Market Analysis: 59443 Fort Shaw

The 59443 ZIP covers a section of Fort Shaw that demands careful diligence. Prices near $504K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $1,251/mo on a $504K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 59443 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Nearby ZIPs in Fort Shaw have seen price recovery that 59443 has not matched. Cascade County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 59443 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Fort Shaw's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 59443. 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 Fort Shaw:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,251/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$529K$456K$383K$310K$237K$164KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59443 Compare?

Metric 59443 Fort Shaw Great Falls, MT Montana
Home Value $503,578 $503,578 N/A $457,278
5-Year CAGR 7.0% 7.0% N/A 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,251 $1,251 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 59443? 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 59443 (Fort Shaw, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.0%
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 $503,578
Monthly Rent $1,251
Price-to-Rent 33.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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
26.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59443

Population: 692

💰 Median Household Income
$66,071
This area
$66,071
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.3%
This area
22.3%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.6%
This area
26.6%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
26.3%
This area
26.3%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.7%
Other/Mixed 17.3%
Hispanic/Latino 15.9%
👶 Under 18
25.5%
This area
25.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
30.4%
This area
30.4%
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 59443

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
10.5:1 Avg Class Size
$17,699 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Fort Shaw Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
106 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$17,699 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 Fort Shaw, MT a good place for real estate investing?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Fort Shaw, MT ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $504K and rents of $1,251/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is vacancy a concern in Fort Shaw, MT?

Fort Shaw, MT vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How should investors approach Fort Shaw, MT?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Fort Shaw, MT best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $504K price point.

How viable is house hacking in Fort Shaw, MT?

Fort Shaw, MT offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,251/mo rent level.

How much rent can I charge in Fort Shaw, MT?

Average rent in Fort Shaw, MT is approximately $1,251/mo per month. Against $504K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 59443 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 59443 ranks in Great Falls, MT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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