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New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Chester, MT Housing Affordability Index

Chester, Montana has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 118.0 (More Affordable Than Average) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 106th most affordable of 217 scored Montana cities, compared with 92.8 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $172,900 home with 20% down, the Montana average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $944, or 21% of the city’s $53,750 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Chester is updated every night from live Montana mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Chester MBR-HAI 118.0 More Affordable Than Average
Rank in Montana 106 of 217 1 = most affordable
Montana 92.8 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.26% Montana lenders
Median home value $172,900 U.S. Census Bureau

Chester is 25.2 points above the Montana score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Montana index

View Chester Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Chester

$944/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$40,500
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$53,750
Median Household Income
Montana: $72,509
3.2x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Montana: 5.2x
$584/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$2,210/yr
Median Property Tax
1.28% of median value
32.1%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
48.8%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Chester, Montana. The rate is the Montana average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Chester Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Chester, Montana score: 118.0 (More Affordable Than Average), ranked 106 of 217 Montana cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/montana/chester”