Real Estate Investing in Chester, Montana (59522)

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

Liberty County • Population: 1,227 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59522 (Chester, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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: 21.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 20.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Chester, MT (59522)?

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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 $217,352
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,406
% Renters 50.3%

Market Analysis: 59522 Chester

ZIP 59522 in Chester, MT carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $217K and rents of $927/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 59522 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $217K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 59522 sits on the difficult end of the MT spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 59522 ZIP's population of 1,227 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Chester's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 59522. 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 Chester:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 59522

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$76,347/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $152,695 $1,030 4.9% +8.8% $76,347
3BR $232,845 $1,430 4.4% +8.0% $77,615

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$229K$203K$176K$150K$124K$97KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59522 Compare?

Metric 59522 Chester Montana
Home Value $217,352 $217,352 $457,278
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 9.2%
Avg Rent $927 $927 -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 59522? Click to expand

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

50% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 59522 (Chester, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 59522 (Chester, MT)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $217,352
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 19.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
21.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59522

Population: 1,227

💰 Median Household Income
$51,406
This area
$51,406
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.3%
This area
50.3%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.2%
This area
0.2%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.4%
This area
31.4%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.5 years
This area
35.5 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.5%
This area
21.5%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.1%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
👶 Under 18
25.2%
This area
25.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.5%
This area
20.5%
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 59522

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
8.6:1 Avg Class Size
$19,011 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Chester-Joplin-Inverness HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
62 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$31,600 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chester-Joplin-Inverness Schl

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
134 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,814 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chester-Joplin-Inverness 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
37 Students
👨‍🏫
6.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,814 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sage Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
6 Students
👨‍🏫
3.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,814 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 the tenant base reliable in Chester, MT?

Tenant quality in Chester, MT ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $927/mo.

Which investment style suits Chester, MT?

In Chester, MT the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $217K prices and $927/mo rents suits that approach.

Is vacancy a concern in Chester, MT?

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

Is Chester, MT a friendly market for rental owners?

Rental owners in Chester, MT deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Are homes affordable in Chester, MT?

Typical homes in Chester, MT go for around $217K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

You know 59522 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 59522 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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