Cost of Living & Housing in Baker
Baker's cost of living centers on Montana's own statewide no-sales-tax and moderate-income-tax advantages, paired with a genuinely, honestly disclosed inconsistency in Baker-specific housing-price citations.
Exploring the idea of moving?
We can connect you with a local real estate professional who knows the area -- no pressure, just a starting point.
Learn moreA real, disclosed spread in Baker-specific housing prices
Baker's own housing-price citations ran genuinely inconsistent across sources this pass: a 2024 median home value of $239,302 (city-data, ACS-sourced), separate citations in the $170,000-$198,800 range, and a March 2026-dated market-value figure of approximately $184,000 (base record). This record discloses that spread directly rather than picking one convenient number -- confirm current, specific listing data directly with a local agent.
A roughly 0.8% effective property tax rate
Baker's own ACS-derived effective property tax rate ran approximately 0.8%, close to Montana's statewide average (approximately 0.72%-0.83% depending on source), producing median annual tax bills of $1,558 (mortgaged units) to $1,943 (non-mortgaged units) -- both meaningfully below the national median property tax bill of $2,400 (base record).
Montana's no sales tax and 5.65% top income tax rate
Montana levies no general statewide sales tax, and its real, current 2026 individual income tax tops out at a 5.65% marginal rate on income above $47,500 single/$95,000 joint, with a further scheduled drop to 5.4% for tax year 2027 (base record).
A genuinely strong county median household income
Fallon County's 2024 median household income ran $76,250 -- well above both the Montana statewide figure and the national median, reflecting the county's real, disclosed dual ranching-and-oil-and-gas economic base (base record).
Key takeaways
- Baker's housing-price citations run genuinely inconsistent across sources ($170,000-$239,302) -- confirm current figures directly.
- Baker's own ~0.8% effective property tax rate produces a median annual tax bill of $1,558-$1,943.
- Montana levies no general statewide sales tax, and its 2026 top income tax rate is 5.65%.
- Fallon County carries a genuinely strong $76,250 median household income (2024).
Want to know what your budget actually buys here?
Tell us a bit about what you're looking for and we'll connect you with someone local who can walk you through real numbers.
Get local guidanceRead the full Baker overview for the complete picture -- housing, taxes, climate, and who this place genuinely fits.
Planning a move?
Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with a local expert who can help you make it happen.
Talk to a local expert