Area data
Plains, MT — ZIP 59859
Population: 4,360 (Census ACS)
The median home value in ZIP 59859 (Plains, MT) is $468,045 — up 3.8% over the past year. 3 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with winterweather, coldwave, icestorm the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 4.5% below the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).
$468,045
Median home value
+3.8%
1-year change
Relatively Low
Hazard risk (county)
Home values & appreciation
- Median home value
- $468,045
- 1-year appreciation
- +3.8%
- 3-year appreciation
- +15.1%
- 5-year appreciation
- +46.8%
- 10-year appreciation
- +166.4%
- All-time peak (2026-07)
- $468,045
- House Price Index (state)
- 724.8 (-1.8% YoY)
Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)
Market activity
- For-sale inventory
- 47
- New listings (monthly)
- 11
Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)
Affordability
- Cost of living index (Average)
- 95.5 (100 = US avg)
- Electricity rate (state-level)
- 13.0¢/kWh
- Natural gas rate (state-level)
- $9.00/MCF
- 30-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.66%
- 15-year mortgage rate (national)
- 6.00%
Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)
Schools
- Total schools
- 3
- Elementary schools
- 1
- Middle schools
- 1
- High schools
- 1
- Schools include
- Plains Elementary School, Plains High School, Plains 7-8
Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)
Natural hazards & flood risk
- Overall hazard risk (county)
- Relatively Low
- Top hazards (county)
- winterWeather, coldWave, iceStorm, landslide, wildfire
- Notable hazard ratings (county)
- avalanche: Relatively Low · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · earthquake: Relatively Low · iceStorm: Relatively Moderate · inlandFlooding: Relatively Low · landslide: Relatively Moderate
- Wildfire risk to homes (county)
- Higher than 85% of US counties
- Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
- 79.6%
- Radon potential (county)
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3
- EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
- None
Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL
Climate (30-year normals)
- Average annual temperature
- 44.0°F
- Average high
- 57.0°F
- Average low
- 31.0°F
- Annual precipitation
- 38.1 in
- USDA plant hardiness zone
- 6a (extreme annual low -10 to -5°F)
Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
Air quality
- Air quality rating
- Good
- Median AQI (annual)
- 37
- Days with Good air quality
- 263
- Days with Moderate air quality
- 96
- Days with Unhealthy air quality
- 2
- Highest AQI recorded (year)
- 181
Source: EPA air quality data (nearest monitoring station, annual)
Amenities
- Airports within 30 mi
- 7
- Nearest airport
- Thompson Falls Airport (THM) (9 mi)
- Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
- 1
- Hospitals include
- CLARK FORK VALLEY HOSPITAL
- Solar radiation rating
- Fair (3.8 kWh/m²/day)
Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)
Migration
- Net migration (county)
- +239 tax filers
Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)
Housing stock
- Median year housing built
- 1,995
- Housing built before 1970
- 15.2%
- Housing built 2000 or later
- 38.6%
- Median annual property tax
- $2,045
- Households with broadband internet
- 70.7%
Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)
Employment & development
- Total county employment
- 2,686
- Average weekly wage
- $798
- Top industries (by employment)
- Health Care, Accommodation & Food, Construction
Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)
How it compares
| ZIP 59859 | State median | US median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $468,045 | $425,267 | $289,727 |
| Median annual property tax | $2,045 | $1,830 | $2,006 |
State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.
Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →
Common questions
- What is the median home value in ZIP 59859?
- $468,045.
- What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 59859?
- Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: winterWeather, coldWave, iceStorm, landslide, wildfire.
- What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 59859?
- Risk to homes is higher than 85% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
- What is the radon potential in ZIP 59859?
- High radon potential — EPA Zone 1 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
- Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 59859?
- No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
- How many schools serve ZIP 59859?
- 3 schools (1 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high) (NCES, 2022-23).
- What is the air quality in ZIP 59859?
- Good. Median AQI: 37. (EPA AQI).
- What is the cost of living in ZIP 59859?
- Regional Price Parity: 95.5 (100 = US average) (Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).
Nearby ZIP codes
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Data last updated
Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →