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Quality of Life in Malta, MT
A high quality of life with strong walkability, manageable living costs, healthy neighborhood signals, and solid amenity access.
What does Quality of Life tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
What does this tell us?
Quality of Life blends cost of living, nearby amenities, socioeconomic signals, and neighborhood character. City-level scores represent the whole municipality; individual neighborhoods can differ.
Cost of Living
45% below national average
The Real Cost of Living in Malta, MT for 2026
| Tier | Individual | Family (4) |
|---|---|---|
| Survival | $11k | $21k |
| Comfortable | $27k | $40k |
| Luxury | $91k+ | $141k+ |
| Elite (Top 5%) | $107k+ | $166k+ |
150%
The Area Signal
A metric tracking the socioeconomic signals of the area.
Hobbies
Explore the areaGroceries
1 within 10 miles
Gas
4 within 10 miles
Hospital
1 within 20 miles
Airport
Post Office
USPS — Malta, MT
Critical Amenities
Quality-of-Life Analysis
Malta, Montana, offers a quality of life defined by extreme affordability and a tight-knit, rural character, with a cost of living index of 55—nearly half the U.S. average. The population of roughly 1,800 is predominantly composed of families, ranchers, and workers in agriculture, energy, and the nearby Phillips County government. This is a community where self-reliance and neighborly support are the norm, and where the pace of life is dictated by the seasons and the open landscape rather than urban congestion.
How housing costs and everyday expenses compare to nearby towns
The most striking feature of life in Malta is its low cost of living. The median home value sits at $139,000, and the median rent is just $693 per month—figures that are dramatically lower than the national medians of roughly $350,000 and $1,200, respectively. This affordability extends to all categories: groceries, utilities, and transportation are all well below the U.S. average. Compared to larger Montana hubs like Bozeman (where the median home value exceeds $600,000) or Billings (around $350,000), Malta offers a path to homeownership that is nearly impossible in those markets. The average commute is a brief 19 minutes, a reflection of the town’s compact layout and the fact that most jobs are local, saving residents significant time and fuel costs. However, this low cost comes with trade-offs: the selection of housing is limited, and older homes may require renovation. For those accustomed to suburban amenities, the nearest major shopping and medical centers are in Havre (about 80 miles west) or Glasgow (about 70 miles east), making a vehicle essential.
What daily life is like for families and outdoor enthusiasts
Daily life in Malta revolves around a small set of core amenities. The town has a K-12 school system, a public library, a hospital (Phillips County Hospital), and a handful of local restaurants and grocery stores. For families, the school system is the central hub, with strong community support for sports and extracurricular activities. The pace is unhurried; there is no traffic, and errands can be completed in minutes. The real draw, however, is the outdoors. Malta sits in the heart of the Missouri River Breaks region, offering world-class hunting for mule deer and pheasants, as well as fishing on the Milk River and nearby Fort Peck Lake. The Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge is a short drive south, providing hiking, wildlife viewing, and solitude. Winters are long and cold, with average January highs around 20°F, which limits outdoor activity for some but is embraced by ice fishers and cross-country skiers. The town lacks a movie theater, large gym, or chain retail, so residents often travel or make their own entertainment.
Who will thrive in Malta’s low-cost, high-solitude environment
Malta is best suited for people who prioritize financial freedom, space, and a slower rhythm over urban convenience and career diversity. It is an excellent fit for remote workers who can maintain a city salary while paying a fraction of the housing costs, for retirees seeking a low-stress, low-cost lifestyle, and for families who want their children to grow up in a safe, community-oriented environment with direct access to nature. Those who require frequent cultural events, diverse dining, or specialized medical care will find the isolation challenging. For the right person, Malta offers a rare combination: a home that is truly affordable, a community that knows your name, and a landscape that feels endless.
Crime in Malta, MT
Generally safer than 57% of comparable U.S. locations.
Violent CrimeViolent Crime Analysis
Property CrimeProperty Crime Analysis
Crime Analysis
Malta, Montana, reports a violent crime rate of 406.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1,441.6 per 100,000, placing it above both state and national averages for communities of its size. While not an extreme outlier, these figures indicate that crime is a tangible concern for residents and prospective movers. The town’s remote location in Phillips County, roughly 90 miles from the Canadian border, means local law enforcement resources are spread across a vast, sparsely populated area, which can impact response times and prevention efforts.
Crime in context
Malta’s violent crime rate is roughly 15% higher than the national average of approximately 380 per 100,000, and significantly above Montana’s statewide rate of about 350 per 100,000. Property crime in Malta is even more elevated, exceeding the national average by roughly 30% and the Montana average by a similar margin. These numbers place Malta in a higher-risk tier compared to other small towns in the region, such as Glasgow (which reports lower property crime) or Havre. The data suggests that theft, burglary, and motor vehicle theft are the most pressing public safety issues, rather than violent offenses like homicide or aggravated assault, though the violent crime rate still warrants attention.
What residents experience
Residents of Malta commonly report that property crimes—particularly theft from vehicles and outbuildings—are the most frequent safety nuisance. The town’s role as a regional service hub for agriculture and energy extraction means transient populations, including seasonal workers, can contribute to fluctuations in crime. Local law enforcement, the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, and the Malta Police Department work with limited staffing, which can delay responses to non-emergency property crimes. Violent incidents, while less common, are often alcohol-related and concentrated in specific areas, such as near bars along U.S. Highway 2. The justice system in Phillips County operates under Montana state law, which is not characterized by the progressive prosecutorial policies seen in some large metro areas; however, the relatively high crime rates here suggest that even traditional sentencing approaches have not fully deterred repeat offenders.
Neighborhood-level variation in Malta is modest but noticeable. The area around the central business district and the railroad tracks sees higher foot traffic and associated petty crime, while the residential outskirts—particularly newer subdivisions on the town’s east side—report fewer incidents. The most rural properties, such as ranches and farms outside city limits, face elevated risks of burglary and equipment theft due to isolation. Prospective residents should prioritize homes with good lighting, secure outbuildings, and neighborhood watch participation. Overall, Malta is not a high-danger environment, but its crime rates are a clear step above the safest small towns in the state, and vigilance is warranted, especially regarding property security.
* Values derived from national, state, county, city and local statistics and may differ in a specific area. Last updated: 2026-05-03T05:02:06.000Z
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