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

You might be surprised to learn that some renowned microbiologists gained scientific notoriety in the little town of Hamilton, with its population of 4,659 (2020 U.S. Census). Take Highway 93 South and drive from the big city of Missoula to this small town. Enjoy the wonderful views of the mountain ranges as you get near the town.

Hamilton is the county seat of Ravalli County. If you prefer to fly directly by small plane to Hamilton, the Ravalli County Airport is just outside the town on the eastern side.

Scientists and technicians want to work here because the U.S. government's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) operates the Rocky Mountain Laboratories. The facility does research into microbiology. It has 30 buildings spread across 36 acres. It employs about 10% of the local population, having around 450 people on its scientific staff.

Two scientists who worked here made major discoveries. Herald Rea Cox figured out the cause of Q fever. He developed vaccines for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and typhus. Wilhelm Burgdorfer's biggest discovery, among many, was the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, which ticks transmit.

The area is best known for hiking, backpacking, hunting in the Bitterroot National Forest, and fishing at Lake Como.

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.

• Ravalli County Museum: A visit to this museum is a must to learn more about the local culture and history. The original County Courthouse building, built in 1900, was renovated to convert it into a museum.
• Downtown Historic District: When visiting the downtown area of this quaint town, it feels like stepping back in time about 100 years or more. The historic buildings are fascinating, and mixed in with the vintage buildings are restaurants and shops to enjoy.
• Daly Mansion: Copper mining during the industrial revolution made Marcus Daly rich. He founded Hamilton in 1894 and built this gigantic 24,000-square-foot home with over 40 rooms on 46 acres. Daly bred thoroughbred racing horses. After he died, the massive Victorian-style home fell into disrepair. Ten years after his death, his widow restored the house in a Georgian Revival style that is preserved well to this day.

Working in Hamilton, MT

The local economy relies on the federal jobs at the Rocky Mountains Laboratories. GlaxoSmithKline operates a private biotechnology lab employing more than 200 people. Other big employers include the hospitality industry for tourists, retail, and healthcare.

The unemployment rate is only 3.8%, about the same as the national rate. A median household earns about $27,188 annually, less than half the national average of $57,652. However, scientific researchers make much more. For the 10% to 15% who are professionals, their household income is up to three times greater than the national average. The future is stable, with 34.5% as the prediction for the annual growth rate for jobs over the next decade, which is just slightly higher than the national average of 33.5%.

The industries with the most jobs offered are building construction (9.0%), hospitality (8.6%), finance/insurance (7.0%), educational services (6.7%), health care (6.2%), computers/electronics (4.2%), professional, scientific, technical services (6.2%), and governmental admin. (5.6%).

Hamilton, MT Neighborhoods

This town is well established. Most homes date back to the 1940s or older.

There are four neighborhoods to consider:

• Gird Point: This is the most expensive area. The median home price is $607,024. Rents are very high also, at $2,423 monthly for a two-bedroom, two-bath place.
• Charles Heights: This is the second most expensive area. The median home price is $500,354. It is on the west side of town.
• City Center/Riverside: The Bitterroot River runs right through this downtown area. The median home price is $412,765. If you work at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, the commute is less than 15 minutes.
• Grantsdale: For those on a budget, this neighborhood has a median home price of $361,434. This area is on the eastern side of town.

Hamilton, MT School District

The Hamilton School District #3 is the administrator for the public school district. The district has a fairly low student-to-teacher ratio of about 16:1. Each year, the district spends about $13,993 per student on education and support services.

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

The town has one institute of higher education, which is the University of Montana Bitterroot College. It is a satellite campus of the University of Montana, which is about 45 miles north in Missoula.

Moving to Hamilton, MT

Water and sewer services come from the City of Hamilton. Northwestern Energy provides natural gas and electrical service. Bitterroot Disposal does the trash collection.

There are seven public parks managed by the Hamilton Parks and Recreation Department.

The municipal government of the City of Hamilton includes an elected mayor and six elected council members.

Hamilton, MT Housing

The median home price in this town is $549,000. Housing prices increased 17.1% from the previous year for the past few years. However, housing is still 15% below the American average. These savings in housing costs help keep living costs lower, to 4% below other areas in America.

That’s quite an improvement!