These Are The 10 Hardest Working Places In Montana

Discover the 10 Hardest Working Places in Montana for 2026

For decades, America has been celebrated as the land of opportunity, where hard work can lead to a better life for individuals and families. In Montana, this ethos is exemplified in communities that embody a strong work ethic—truly the hardest working places in the state.

Leading the charge is Helena Valley Northwest, earning the title of the hardest working place in Montana. Residents here are so dedicated that commuting to work feels like a job in itself!

Curious about which other towns in Montana are known for their industrious spirit? Check out the list below to see where you might need to clock extra hours to earn that promotion:

Attention, South Browning! As we delve into how these rankings were determined, there are valuable lessons to learn from the rest of Montana.

For more insights into Montana’s job landscape, explore:

How We Determined the Hardest Working Places in Montana

At Zippia, we rely on data-driven analysis to tackle important questions. For this ranking, we utilized the latest data from the American Community Survey, reflecting trends leading into 2026.

After reviewing numerous criteria, we focused on a set that highlights the work ethic in each community:

Average hours worked
Average commute time
Workers per household (employed labor force divided by the number of households)
Labor force participation rate
Percentage of adults with a college degree

This approach allows us to identify communities where residents dedicate significant time to their jobs, contributing to a robust work culture.

After compiling data from all 53 places in Montana, we ranked each location based on the criteria, assigning a score from 1 (hardest working) to 53. The final hardworking index was calculated by averaging these rankings.

Ultimately, Helena Valley Northwest emerged as the top contender for the “Hardest Working Place in Montana.” Explore the detailed chart below to understand the rankings further.

1. Helena Valley Northwest

Population: 3,939 College Graduates: 41.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.9
Workers Per Household: 1.7

2. Montana City

Source: Google Maps

Population: 2,683 College Graduates: 44.5%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.0
Workers Per Household: 1.4

3. Four Corners

Population: 3,264 College Graduates: 48.8%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.0
Workers Per Household: 1.4

4. Big Sky

Population: 2,694 College Graduates: 52.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 42.6
Workers Per Household: 1.7

5. Malmstrom AFB

Population: 3,625 College Graduates: 33.2%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 44.8
Workers Per Household: 2.1

6. Belgrade

Population: 7,625 College Graduates: 28.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 38.4
Workers Per Household: 1.5

7. Colstrip

Population: 2,243 College Graduates: 35.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 39.1
Workers Per Household: 1.5

8. Lolo

Population: 3,994 College Graduates: 32.3%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 35.3
Workers Per Household: 1.7

9. Red Lodge

Population: 2,337 College Graduates: 40.6%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 37.5
Workers Per Household: 1.1

10. Bozeman

Population: 39,123 College Graduates: 54.4%
Average Hours Worked Per Week: 35.5
Workers Per Household: 1.5

Complete List of Hardest Working Places in Montana

City	Rank	Population	College Graduates	Average Hours Worked Per Week	Workers Per Household
Helena Valley Northwest	1	3,939	41.5%	38.9	1.7
Montana City	2	2,683	44.5%	39.0	1.4
Four Corners	3	3,264	48.8%	39.0	1.4
Big Sky	4	2,694	52.3%	42.6	1.7
Malmstrom AFB	5	3,625	33.2%	44.8	2.1
Belgrade	6	7,625	28.3%	38.4	1.5
Colstrip	7	2,243	35.6%	39.1	1.5
Lolo	8	3,994	32.3%	35.3	1.7
Red Lodge	9	2,337	40.6%	37.5	1.1
Bozeman	10	39,123	54.4%	35.5	1.5
Laurel	11	6,887	18.5%	39.6	1.3
Helena Valley Northeast	12	2,731	34.9%	38.6	1.1
Lewistown	13	5,879	31.3%	40.4	1.1
Lockwood	14	6,943	17.9%	38.6	1.5
Helena Valley West Central	15	8,502	30.6%	37.8	1.4
Billings	16	106,979	30.5%	38.5	1.3
Livingston	17	7,086	30.5%	38.7	1.3
Havre	18	9,668	26.8%	38.8	1.3
Orchard Homes	19	5,410	39.9%	34.2	1.5
Wolf Point	20	2,730	15.1%	39.5	1.3
Sidney	21	5,888	14.8%	42.4	1.3
Cut Bank	22	2,947	23.5%	39.1	1.3
Helena	23	29,142	44.8%	36.7	1.2
East Helena	24	2,497	29.8%	38.9	1.2
East Missoula	25	2,597	29.1%	38.6	1.7
Glasgow	26	3,327	17.4%	39.2	1.2
Columbia Falls	27	4,765	18.4%	38.5	1.4
Whitefish	28	6,542	46.0%	37.0	1.2
Glendive	29	5,167	17.0%	40.8	1.2
Missoula	30	68,377	45.7%	35.3	1.4
Helena Valley Southeast	31	7,340	21.3%	37.7	1.6
Conrad	32	2,600	21.7%	39.2	1.2
Miles City	33	8,553	18.4%	38.7	1.2
Lakeside	34	2,755	39.7%	41.9	0.9
Great Falls	35	59,017	25.5%	38.3	1.2
Columbus	36	2,250	17.3%	40.2	1.3
Deer Lodge	37	3,085	18.6%	35.9	1.1
Shelby	38	3,096	14.9%	39.1	1.1
Dillon	39	4,181	32.4%	38.3	1.2
Townsend	40	2,033	17.4%	38.7	1.1
Hardin	41	3,720	18.1%	39.2	1.3
Butte-Silver Bow	42	33,481	23.6%	37.8	1.1
Kalispell	43	20,629	27.9%	37.0	1.2
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County	44	9,243	18.6%	38.7	1.1
Evergreen	45	6,711	12.1%	35.9	1.3
Bigfork	46	4,375	32.2%	36.8	1.0
Polson	47	4,580	26.5%	37.8	1.1
Hamilton	48	4,486	22.3%	36.7	0.9
Lame Deer	49	2,131	11.6%	35.4	1.5
North Browning	50	2,363	5.4%	39.4	1.2
Libby	51	2,667	19.3%	38.3	0.9
Pablo	52	2,616	4.1%	37.5	1.1
South Browning	53	2,045	4.1%	38.0	1.0

Never miss an opportunity that’s right for you.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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