Rankings

Highest Freedom Score Counties in Montana

A blended county-level discovery score for affordable land, alternative housing fit, taxes, solar, and broadband.

Ranking boundary

Rankings Are Discovery Leads

A high ranking means a county is worth researching first. It is not legal advice, a recommendation to buy land, or proof that any parcel will qualify for a specific use.

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derived

Freedom Score is derived from sourced data layers and county-level alternative-housing discovery scores.

Source confidence

Ranking Confidence Strip

A quick trust check for the top-ranked counties: verified profiles, major source coverage, citation depth, and the number of source inputs behind this ranking.

coverage watch
Top 10 profileswatch
9/10

Sourced county profiles

Source coveragewatch
0/10

Major sourced layers present

Citation depthsourced
94

Top 10 county citation URLs

Ranking inputsderived
8

Source groups used by this ranking

#1Carter CountyPartially sourced83

Carter County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target because it scores strongly for rural off-grid discovery and has official growth-policy language referencing the county land planning board and subdivision regulations. Treat it as a sourced-discovery profile until parcel-level planning, sanitation, access, and any local district rules are confirmed.

#2Madison CountyPartially sourced83

Madison County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with an official planning office, planning forms, subdivision resources, floodplain information, and planning-office regulations. This improves source confidence, but parcel checks still need planning, sanitation, water, road, covenant, and town-jurisdiction review.

#3Powder River CountyPartially sourced82

Powder River County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target because it is a high-scoring rural county with official subdivision application materials and a county public-health contact trail. Keep it sourced-discovery until planning, sanitation, legal access, and any local zoning or subdivision limits are confirmed by parcel.

#4Sweet Grass CountyPartially sourced82

Sweet Grass County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with official environmental-health septic resources and growth-policy materials referencing planning, floodplain, subdivision, and wastewater considerations. It remains sourced discovery until parcel-specific planning and sanitation answers are confirmed.

#5Beaverhead CountyPartially sourced81

Beaverhead County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with official land-services/planning materials and current subdivision regulations. Large rural acreage and public-land context are appealing, but parcel-level planning, sanitation, access, floodplain, and local overlay review are still required.

#6Fallon CountyPartially sourced81

Fallon County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with an official planning department, planning fee schedule, subdivision review references, floodplain permitting, and growth-policy materials. Keep it sourced discovery until parcel-specific zoning, sanitation, access, and town/city jurisdiction are confirmed.

#7Golden Valley CountyPartially sourced81

Golden Valley County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#8Granite CountyPartially sourced81

Granite County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with an official planning department that oversees divisions of land, zoning, and floodplain. It remains sourced discovery until the exact parcel, sanitation path, road access, and any local rules are confirmed.

#9Judith Basin CountyPartially sourced81

Judith Basin County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target because it scores well for rural discovery and has an official planning-board source. The next verification step is deeper county-office confirmation of subdivision, sanitation, access, and structure-classification requirements.

#10Meagher CountyPartially sourced81

Meagher County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with official subdivision-regulation materials. Its rural profile is promising for alternative living discovery, but parcel-level sanitation, access, water, covenants, and any local land-use controls remain decisive.

#11Big Horn CountyPartially sourced80

Big Horn County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#12Garfield CountyPartially sourced80

Garfield County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#13Musselshell CountyPartially sourced80

Musselshell County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#14Phillips CountyPartially sourced80

Phillips County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#15Prairie CountyPartially sourced80

Prairie County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#16Treasure CountyPartially sourced80

Treasure County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#17Wheatland CountyPartially sourced80

Wheatland County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#18Park CountyPartially sourced79

Park County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#19Petroleum CountyPartially sourced79

Petroleum County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#20Rosebud CountyPartially sourced79

Rosebud County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#21Toole CountyPartially sourced79

Toole County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#22Wibaux CountyPartially sourced79

Wibaux County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#23Blaine CountyPartially sourced78

Blaine County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#24Broadwater CountyPartially sourced78

Broadwater County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#25Carbon CountyPartially sourced78

Carbon County is a Tier 1 Montana verification target with official planning and environmental-health pages. Subdivision review, DEQ sanitation review, septic resources, floodplain, mountain access, and local zoning overlays all need parcel-level confirmation.

#26Chouteau CountyPartially sourced78

Chouteau County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#27Fergus CountyPartially sourced78

Fergus County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#28Jefferson CountyPartially sourced78

Jefferson County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#29McCone CountyPartially sourced78

McCone County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#30Teton CountyPartially sourced78

Teton County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#31Glacier CountyPartially sourced77

Glacier County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#32Lincoln CountyPartially sourced77

Lincoln County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#33Powell CountyPartially sourced77

Powell County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#34Sanders CountyPartially sourced77

Sanders County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#35Stillwater CountyPartially sourced77

Stillwater County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#36Mineral CountyPartially sourced76

Mineral County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#37Richland CountyPartially sourced76

Richland County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#38Valley CountyPartially sourced76

Valley County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#39Custer CountyPartially sourced75

Custer County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#40Daniels CountyPartially sourced75

Daniels County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#41Sheridan CountyPartially sourced75

Sheridan County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#42Pondera CountyPartially sourced74

Pondera County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#43Roosevelt CountyPartially sourced74

Roosevelt County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#44Dawson CountyPartially sourced73

Dawson County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#45Hill CountyPartially sourced73

Hill County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#46Liberty CountyPartially sourced72

Liberty County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#47Ravalli CountyPartially sourced67

Ravalli County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#48Flathead CountyPartially sourced66

Flathead County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#49Deer Lodge CountyPartially sourced65

Deer Lodge County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#50Lake CountyPartially sourced65

Lake County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#51Lewis and Clark CountyPartially sourced64

Lewis and Clark County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#52Gallatin CountyPartially sourced60

Gallatin County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#53Yellowstone CountyPartially sourced58

Yellowstone County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#54Cascade CountyPartially sourced57

Cascade County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#55Missoula CountyPartially sourced57

Missoula County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

#56Silver Bow CountyPartially sourced57

Silver Bow County is a draft Montana profile for comparing alternative living potential at the county level. This scaffold uses verified county boundaries and 2024 Census population data, with source layers still being collected.

Research context

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