Choteau, MT vs Hardin, MT

Hardin is moderately more affordable than Choteau, with a 5.8% lower cost of living index. Choteau scores 70 compared to 66 for Hardin, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Choteau can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Choteau is $713/month compared to $726/month in Hardin — a 2% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Choteau has cheaper rent, Hardin actually has lower median home values ($142,800 vs $194,900).

Median household income in Choteau is $53,929 compared to $60,463 in Hardin (-10.8%). Hardin offers a double advantage: higher earnings combined with a lower cost of living, giving residents significantly more purchasing power. Looking at affordability, residents of Choteau spend roughly 15.9% of their income on rent, more than the 14.4% in Hardin.