Housing in West Yellowstone
West Yellowstone's housing market runs unlike any other market in this project's Montana batch -- genuinely dominated by short-term rentals rather than full-time residency.
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Learn moreA real, extreme seasonal-vacancy pattern
Of approximately 855 total housing units, only about 493 run occupied (a 42.3% vacancy rate), consistent with a housing stock dominated by short-term vacation rentals and seasonal-worker housing (base record).
A genuinely elevated price point for a small town
West Yellowstone's median home value ran approximately $400,000 (2024), up roughly 10% year-over-year -- comparable to or above Montana's own $467,919 statewide average given the town's extremely constrained inventory (base record).
A renter-majority occupied market
Only about 40% of occupied units run owner-occupied, with the majority (60%) rented -- a real, disclosed pattern distinct from a conventional ownership-dominated small town (base record).
A virtually nonexistent long-term rental market
This record discloses a real, genuine long-term-rental scarcity directly complicating year-round residency and even local teacher recruitment (base record).
Key takeaways
- West Yellowstone's housing stock runs genuinely dominated by short-term/seasonal rentals (42.3% vacancy).
- Median home value (~$400,000) runs genuinely elevated for a town this size.
- Only about 40% of occupied units are owner-occupied -- a real, renter-majority market.
- A virtually nonexistent long-term rental market is a real, disclosed challenge for year-round residents.
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