Ravalli County Public RecordsMontana

Ravalli County, MT, has 19 public schools, including 5 high schools. Around 93.5% of adults hold a high school diploma, while 28% possess a bachelor's degree or higher. School districts here include Hamilton and Corvallis, with average math and reading proficiency scores around 50%. The student-teacher ratio averages 15:1. School safety initiatives and adult education programs, such as Bitterroot College, support community learning. The graduation rate is 88%, reflecting a strong focus on educational attainment across the county.

As of 2022, Ravalli County, MT, has an employment rate of about 56%, with approximately 19,000 employed residents. Key industries include healthcare and social assistance (14%), retail trade (13%), and construction (12%). Occupation types are led by management, business, science, and arts (32%), followed by sales and office occupations (23%). Around 70% of workers commute by car, with a median commute time of 23 minutes. Roughly 25% work outside the county, particularly in Missoula, the largest nearby employment center.

Ravalli County, MT has a homeownership rate of about 77%, with a median home value around $420,000 as of 2023, reflecting rising prices in recent years. Rental units make up approximately 23% of housing, with median monthly rents near $1,200. Single-family homes dominate the market, though there are some apartments and mobile homes. Popular neighborhoods include Hamilton, Stevensville, and Victor. Property tax rates average 0.81%, below national averages. The county’s scenic Bitterroot Valley location and tight inventory drive market competition and increased demand for both buyers and renters.

Ravalli County, MT, has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. In 2022, the county reported approximately 320 total crimes, including about 30 violent crimes and 290 property crimes, resulting in a crime rate of around 12.5 incidents per 1,000 residents. Law enforcement agencies in Ravalli encourage community involvement and maintain transparent crime reporting through local and state databases. Despite its rural character, residents are advised to remain vigilant, as property crimes such as theft and burglary occur more frequently than violent offenses. Crime statistics are updated regularly by the Montana Board of Crime Control.

As of 2023, Ravalli County, Montana, has a population of approximately 46,000. The median age is about 48 years, reflecting an older demographic. Gender distribution is nearly equal, with 50.3% female and 49.7% male. The county is predominantly White (93.6%), with small proportions of Hispanic or Latino (3.1%), Native American (1.2%), and other racial or ethnic groups comprising less than 1% each.

Ravalli County, Montana, had about 32,500 registered voters in 2022. Elections include federal, state, and local contests, with recent turnout around 75%. Major parties—Republican and Democrat—dominate, and in 2020 the county favored Republicans by over 65%. Voting occurs at several polling locations, such as Corvallis School and Hamilton High School. Key local issues include land use and natural resources. The Election Administrator’s office in Hamilton manages registrations and ballots, offering both early mail-in and in-person voting.