| City: | Fortine, Montana |
| County: | Lincoln County |
| Timezone: | Mountain (GMT -07:00) |
| Local Time: | 7:01:38 AM |
| Population: | 492 [See All] |
| Area Code: | 406 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 48.8037, -114.8046 |
| Land Area: | 93.299 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Fortine sits in northwestern Montana's Tobacco Valley, about 30 miles south of the Canadian border. It's a small community of 492 people where nearly half the workforce works from home. The median age of 55.9 years and small household size of 2.1 people point to an older population of couples and retirees.
This is a PO Box Only Zone. There's no alternative mail delivery across the 21-square-mile territory, so every household depends on the Fortine post office. With 355 PO Boxes serving 233 occupied homes, the post office maintains about 1.5 boxes per household. That ratio suggests the post office also serves people living in surrounding unincorporated areas who travel to Fortine to pick up their mail.
Rural carrier routes do exist here, covering roads like Meadow Creek Road and US Highway 93 South. The route names tell the story of this landscape: Whitetail Meadow Road, Two Bear Trail, Porcupine Ridge, Roberts Mountain Road. Despite the rural delivery option, many residents still prefer PO Boxes for security and convenience in a place where driveways can stretch a quarter mile from the main road.
Homeownership runs high at 83%, with a median home value of $286,500 and median household income of $65,500. About 14% of housing units sit vacant for seasonal or recreational use, common in Montana's mountain valleys where hunting cabins and summer retreats dot the forest. The 47.9% work-from-home rate is striking, more than three times the national average. Remote work has made communities like Fortine accessible to professionals who want to live surrounded by national forest.
Street names reflect the rural Montana landscape with wildlife and terrain references like Two Bear Trail, Porcupine Ridge, and Roberts Mountain Road.
ZIP Code 59918 has 492 residents and 233 households (average 2.11 persons per household). The median age is 55.9 years, significantly older than the state (40.5) and significantly older than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 51.0% male and 49.0% female, which is slightly higher than the national male share (49.1%), making this a male-majority area. Largest groups are White (91.9%, much higher than the state average of 84.5% and well above the national average of 61.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (3.3%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.3%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%).
Explore More:Population Over TimeBy Age & GenderBy RaceBy GenderNativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 492Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 509Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 5.3 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $67,250Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 233Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $353,300Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.11Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 2.97Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 791 | 735 | 720 | 752 | 725 | 584 | 615 | 650 | 747 | 808 | 599 | 625 | 518 | 509 |
| Decennial Census | 592 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 492 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 55.9
Male Median Age: 55.9
Female Median Age: 55.9
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 10 | 23 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 28 | 33 | 28 | 26 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| Female | 9 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 16 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 29 | 27 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 9 |
| Total | 19 | 37 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 11 | 37 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 49 | 62 | 55 | 44 | 18 | 22 | 10 |
| White: | 452 | 93.97% |
| Black: | 2 | 0.42% |
| Hispanic:* | 16 | 3.33% |
| Asian: | 3 | 0.62% |
| American Indian: | 1 | 0.21% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 7 | 1.46% |
| Total: | 481 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 251 | 51.02% | 55.9 years |
| Females: | 241 | 48.98% | 55.9 years |
| Total: | 492 | 100% | 55.9 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 491 | 96.46% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 10 | 1.96% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 8 | 1.57% |
| Total Population: | 509 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 501 | 98.43% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 8 | 1.57% |
In 2024, the Median household income is $67,250, which is much lower than the national median ($80,734), is up $23,500 (53.7%) since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $2,188. Family households earn a median of $75,000 versus $51,250 for nonfamily households (a difference of $23,750). By gender, male median income is $70,921 and female is $35,556, which is well under the national female median ($55,274), with a current gap of $35,365 that has widened from 2011 to 2024. The labor-force participation rate is 45.4%, which is far less than the national rate (63.5%). The unemployment rate is 9.4%, which is far worse than the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Management (37.2%).
Explore More:Income Over TimeHousehold IncomeEmployment StatusBy Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $43,750 | $40,667 | $40,625 | $37,188 | $39,722 | $43,045 | $46,085 | $46,324 | $69,438 | $70,781 | $72,667 | $65,417 | $65,500 | $67,250 |
| Median Family Income | $51,023 | $45,769 | $42,132 | $40,833 | $42,729 | $43,909 | $46,958 | $47,059 | $83,750 | $72,361 | $74,000 | $73,500 | $79,167 | $75,000 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $14,514 | $13,790 | $13,214 | $14,926 | $15,956 | $17,321 | $19,028 | $20,577 | $0 | $51,250 | $50,000 | $56,042 | $0 | $51,250 |
| Median Male Income | $49,063 | $46,250 | $48,542 | $42,582 | $0 | $43,227 | $45,731 | $46,080 | $61,339 | $61,228 | $72,679 | $78,571 | $71,797 | $70,921 |
| Median Female Income | $32,750 | $35,528 | $35,361 | $21,466 | $0 | $0 | $41,250 | $40,655 | $41,447 | $26,667 | $43,309 | $32,386 | $47,813 | $35,556 |
| Employed: | 183 | 41.12% |
| Unemployed: | 19 | 4.27% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 243 | 54.61% |
| Total: | 445 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 68 | 37.16% |
| Service: | 18 | 9.84% |
| Sales and Office: | 17 | 9.29% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 54 | 29.51% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 26 | 14.21% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 183 | 100% |
In 2024, the median home value is $353,300, which is well above the national median ($332,700), is up $140,200 (65.79%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $23,000. The median gross rent is $1,308, which is below the national median ($1,413), is up $816 (165.85%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $565. Of occupied housing, owners make up 87.61% (60.10% with a mortgage, 39.90% free-and-clear) and renters 12.39% - making this ZIP Code under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 26.86%, which is far higher than the national rate (10.12%).
Explore More:Compare Home ValueHome Value Over TimeRent & Over TimeHousing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $213,100 | $198,900 | $185,000 | $114,900 | $120,700 | $145,800 | $0 | $0 | $330,300 | $322,700 | $289,300 | $273,800 | $286,500 | $353,300 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 7 | 25.00% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 13 | 46.43% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $3,000 or more: | 0 | 0.00% |
| No Rent: | 8 | 28.57% |
| Total: | 28 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $492 | $583 | $588 | $915 | $960 | $696 | $706 | $728 | $743 | $748 | $1,086 | $1,102 | $1,295 | $1,308 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 119 | 52.65% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 79 | 34.96% |
| Renter Occupied: | 28 | 12.39% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 226 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 226 | 73.14% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 83 | 26.86% |
| Total Housing Units: | 309 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 281 | 90.94% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 7 | 2.27% |
| Other Units: | 21 | 6.80% |
| Total Housing Units: | 309 | 100% |
In 2024, 27.00% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is comparable to the national rate (35.70%). High school or higher is 97.00%, which is far higher than the national rate (89.60%). The uninsured rate is 19.30%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.40%). The share of people in poverty is 7.00%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.80%), down 4.60 percentage points since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 1.90 percentage points. This points to a pronounced improvement in local conditions - rising incomes, firmer consumer demand, and a stronger tax base. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is elementary (42.19%). College enrollment is 15.63%, which is comparable to the national rate (26.70%), meaning the community mirrors broader higher-education participation.
Explore More:Educational AttainmentHealth InsurancePoverty Over TimeSchool Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 0 | 0.00% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 13 | 3.02% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 209 | 48.60% |
| Some college, no degree: | 76 | 17.67% |
| Associate's degree: | 16 | 3.72% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 81 | 18.84% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 35 | 8.14% |
| Total: | 430 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 417 | 96.98% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 116 | 26.98% |
| Private Insurance: | 273 | 46.19% |
| Public Insurance: | 220 | 37.23% |
| No Insurance: | 98 | 16.58% |
| Total: | 591 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 493 | 83.42% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 10.2% | 11.8% | 11.3% | 16.5% | 13.5% | 10.8% | 10.2% | 8.9% | 3.7% | 3.9% | 2.5% | 2.9% | 5.6% | 7.0% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 6 | 9.38% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 27 | 42.19% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 21 | 32.81% |
| College or graduate school: | 10 | 15.63% |
| Total: | 64 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 6 | 9.38% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 54 | 84.38% |
ZIP Code 59918 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 13 business establishments, employing about 53 people with an annual payroll of $1,569,000.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 474Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 13Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $290,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $1,569,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 53Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 59918 is located in Lincoln County, Montana, within the Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA ) and Montana's 1st Congressional District. This area has a population of 0 people, about 0.00% of whom live in ZIP Code 59918. It covers 93.299 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.613 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Number: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Division: | --Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 0Source: Census |
| MSA: | Source: Census |
| Land Area: | 93.299 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.613 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 01Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 0 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Source: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 3028150Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Fortine CDP; MontanaSource: Census |
ZIP Code 59918 is in the Fortine Elementary School District, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten thru 8th. There are 2 public school(s) in this ZIP Code, and we have located 3 private school(s). It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on February 1, 2026.