The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 59544 sells for about $220,800, or $115 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 180 days to sell, which is slow. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $270 a month.
ZIP 59544 — Whitewater
The housing market in 59544 is characterized by extremely low volume and high stability, typical of remote rural Montana. Prices have seen modest appreciation over the last decade, driven by limited inventory rather than high demand. The market remains quiet with very few transactions occurring annually.
This area is best suited for those seeking extreme privacy, agricultural lifestyle, or retirement in a remote setting, as it lacks the amenities and employment density required by most families or commuters.
Median prices moved up 2.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 180 days on market with 12.0 months of supply — a slower-moving market.
0% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 96% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.8% · poverty 18.9% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.4%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
ZCTA 59544, Phillips County MT
Crime rates in this rural area are extremely low, with incidents being rare and primarily limited to minor property-related issues.
The area is served by small, rural school districts where student-to-teacher ratios are low, though extracurricular and advanced academic offerings are limited by the small population base.
The region faces moderate wildfire risk during dry summer months and significant winter weather exposure, typical of the high plains of Montana.
Economic momentum is tied primarily to agricultural production and local ranching operations, with very limited new commercial or residential development activity.
Property taxes are assessed at the county level based on state-mandated valuation cycles, with no local sales tax and a reliance on property levies to fund rural school districts and county services.
Commutes are exceptionally long, often exceeding 45 minutes, as residents travel to larger regional hubs like Malta or Glasgow for employment and essential services.
Recreation is centered on outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, and access to vast open prairie landscapes, with limited formal shopping or dining options within a 3-mile radius.
The rental market is extremely thin with very low turnover and limited inventory, primarily consisting of single-family homes or mobile units.
The economy is dominated by dryland farming, cattle ranching, and small-scale local government services.
Transportation is entirely dependent on private vehicles, with no public transit infrastructure available in this remote region.
There are no major commercial or residential developments currently in the planning or construction pipeline for this ZIP code.
The Phillips County Assessor manages property valuations, which are updated periodically based on state-wide assessment standards.
Parcels are subject to standard county property tax levies, school district taxes, and local fire district assessments.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the high cost of wildfire mitigation and the remote nature of the geography, which can complicate emergency response.
The state experiences modest net domestic migration, though this specific rural ZIP code remains stable with little population fluctuation.
Montana is a non-judicial foreclosure state, allowing for a streamlined process under the Small Tract Financing Act for qualifying properties.
Sellers are required to provide a standard disclosure statement regarding the condition of the property, though rural agricultural properties often have specific exemptions.
Data retrieved from Census Bureau ZCTA-level tables.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
Local community green space serving the immediate area.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.