Storage Units Near Hamilton, Montana

Moving and storage go hand in hand. Whether traveling across town or the country, moving is an exciting and fresh start. While Storage Rentals of America is here to help you with all your storage needs, we also want to help you get familiar with the area. That's why we put together this resource guide for Hamilton.

About Hamilton, MT

Montana is nicknamed "Big Sky Country" because of the breathtaking vistas and wide-open spaces. Hamilton is in the state's center, surrounded by mountains that create majestic views. It is about 45 minutes from Highway 93, south of the large city of Missoula.

This little town had only 4,659 people for the 2020 count of the U.S. Census. It is the county seat of Ravalli County. The Ravalli County Public Airport is just one mile east of the town. Nothing changes quickly in this little town. It was the last city in Montana to have a Kmart. The store finally closed in 2022, outdone by its competitor Walmart.

The federal government operates the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, which conducts microbiological research. The facility has 30 buildings on 36 acres. It offers high-paying jobs for the scientific staff, employing around 450 people, making it the largest employer in the area.

The winters are cold, with temperatures below freezing in January. Springtime and summer are pleasantly warm yet not too hot. The average temperature in summer, during the hottest month of July, is only 69 °F.

The city is best known for being near the Bitterroot Mountains, which offer excellent hiking opportunities, and the Sapphire Mountains, which hunters appreciate. Wearing a cowboy hat and cowboy boots, then hunting or fishing, is a regular pastime for those who enjoy a Western country lifestyle.

What to do in Hamilton, MT

This town is small but thriving. It was founded in 1894 by Marcus Daly, who made a fortune mining copper in Montana. His restored home is an attraction in the downtown historic district.

• Daly Mansion: This massive Georgian-Revival-style home has over 40 rooms and 24,000 square feet. It sits prominently on a parcel of land that is 46 acres. Daly was the "Copper King" of Montana, and on his impressive spread, he raised thoroughbred racing horses.
• Ravalli County Museum: The museum is inside the restored County Courthouse building built in 1900. It features exhibits on natural history, local history, and art.
• The Valley of Three Trails: At the museum in the historic downtown area is the convergence of three major national trails that delight backpackers, which are the Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail, the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Working in Hamilton, MT

Scientific research is a big player in the local economy. Other robust employment sectors include accommodations, food service, retail, and healthcare. The unemployment rate is 3.8% compared to the U.S. average of 3.6%. The median household income is $27,188 per year. This figure is low compared to the average family's national household income figure of $57,652. However, the cost of living is low, and there are some very high-paying positions for scientists. The predicted job growth rate over the next ten years is 34.5%, compared to the national average of 33.5% for the next decade.

The most dynamic industries are the construction trade (9.0%), accommodations/restaurants (8.6%), financial/insurance (7.0%), education (6.7%), healthcare (6.2%), computers & electronic products (4.2%), professional, scientific, technical services (6.2%) and public administration (5.6%).

Hamilton, MT Neighborhoods

This little town has many homes built before WWII, so the neighborhoods are well-established. The houses are on huge lots. It is common to find homes built on significant acreage.

Here are the top three neighborhoods:

• Gird Point: This large neighborhood goes all the way east to the national forest of the Sapphire Wilderness Area. The median home price is high at $607,024. Rents are pricey, too, so plan to spend around $2,423 to rent a place monthly.
• Charles Heights: This area is on the western side of town. The median home selling price is $500,354. Stay in the Pineview Lodge or the Downing Mountain Lodge when visiting to get a good feel for the lifestyle and go for a pleasant two-hour hike on the nearby Blodgett Overlook trail.
• City Center/Riverside: The Bitterroot River runs right through this neighborhood. A home on a riverfront lot is a real family pleaser. The median home price is $412,765. Getting to work has one of the shortest average commute times in the USA, less than 15 minutes.

Hamilton, MT School District

The public school district is Hamilton School District #3. The student-to-teacher ratio is about 16:1. The school district spends about $13,993 per student annually.

There are four private schools in the area, which include Blodgett View Christian School (K to 8th), Grace Lutheran Learning Center (K to 1st), Hamilton Christian Academy (K to 12th), and Pines Academy (K to 6th).

The University of Montana Bitterroot College is in Hamilton. The main campus of the University of Montana is in Missoula, about 45 miles north.

Moving to Hamilton, MT

The City of Hamilton provides water/sewer services. Northwestern Energy provides electricity and natural gas (tel. 888-467-2669), or you can get electricity from Ravalli Electric Co-op (tel. 406-961-3001). Bitterroot Disposal (tel. 406-363-3630) provides trash collection.

The Hamilton Parks and Recreation Department maintains seven public parks and a baseball field.

The City of Hamilton has an elected mayor and six other elected council members, comprising seven on the city council.

Hamilton, MT Housing

The median home price in Hamilton is $549,000. The housing listing prices have been trending up around 17.1% year-over-year. Nevertheless, the housing costs in this area are still 15% below the national median. This lower-than-average housing cost helps keep the cost of living down to 4% below the rest of the United States.