Featured City Hamilton

Homes For Sale in Hamilton, MT

In southwest Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, lies the small city of Hamilton. Made up of 14 neighborhoods and home to around 5,000 people, it’s a place that’s surrounded by stunning natural beauty. Communities here are warm and welcoming and while it’s a great place to retire, it’s also great for people looking to raise a family with its excellent schools and outdoor activities.

Montana’s 23rd largest community, it’s the country seat for Ravalli County. You’ll find the Bitterroot Mountains on Hamilton’s west border, while the Swan Mountains lie on its east edge.

Here, we’ll take a look at what Hamilton has to offer including the homes for sale in the area, and explore why it may be a great place for you to relocate to.

History

Hamilton began as a timber town created by copper magnate Marcus Daly. Daly’s frontman was engineer James Hamilton, who bought 160 acres from local farmers and platted the townsite in 1890. By 1893, over 40 businesses that catered to mill workers had opened in Hamilton.

Hamilton’s population increased after the Bitterroot apple boom of 1907. The town’s economy was sustained by the Rocky Mountain Laboratory, a microbiological research and production center in the 1920s and ’30s. This laboratory can still be found here today.

Now, Hamilton is known as the main commercial hub for smaller ranches, farms, and orchards that spread throughout Bitterroot Valley. It’s also a great place for a weekend getaway, as its location makes it an excellent base camp to explore some of Montana’s mountains.

Real Estate Market

Many of the homes for sale in Hamilton, MT were built before World War II, making it one of the older and more historic cities in the US. There’s a wide variety of property in Hamilton, including condos and townhouses, single-family homes, and luxury homes and estates.

Condos and townhouses

Condos and townhouses in Hamilton range from over 1,000 to over 3,000 square feet and can cost anywhere from over $300,000 to $500,000. They can comprise two to three bedrooms and two to two-and-a-half bathrooms.

Single-family homes

When it comes to single-family homes, there’s a wide range of housing stock available, from a cozy 720-square foot two-bedroom, one-bathroom house that costs less than $350,000 to much larger properties containing multiple beds and baths.

Luxury homes and estates

There are also a number of luxury properties among the homes for sale in Hamilton, MT. These properties boast 7-12 bedrooms and 5.5 to 16 bathrooms and range from just a little under 9,000 square feet to 25,00 square feet on 8-27-acre lots.

Architectural styles

Early Hamilton, MT real estate followed the Romanesque style, known for its round arches, thick walls, sturdy pillars, and large towers. After 1905, Craftsman and Colonial Revival style residences became popular in the city. Craftsman houses are known for their low-pitched gable roofs, tapered columns, and overhanging eaves with exposed beams and rafters. Colonial Revival style homes have simple layouts and symmetrical window designs with intricate detailing and porticos.

After 1927, Picturesque Revival and Cape Cod-style cottages became popular. Homes built in the Picturesque Revival have a pointed arch used for doors and windows and decorative elements like dormers and porches. In contrast, Cape Cod-style cottages are usually single-story homes with a low and broad rectangular profile, a pitched, side-gabled roof, and a central chimney.

Hamilton Neighborhoods

There are three notable Hamilton neighborhoods in Hamilton: the City Center / Riverside, Grantsdale, and Charlos Heights.

City Center / Riverside

Much of the housing stock in City Center / Riverside consists of single-family homes that range from 2 to 4 bedrooms and apartment buildings, which were built at the same time as residences at Gird Point. There are a few properties however that were constructed before 1940. A significant number of City Center / Riverside residents walk and bike to work.

Grantsdale

Housing stock in Grantsdale consists of studios to four-bedroom single-family homes, as well as mobile homes. If you’re looking for newer homes for sale in Hamilton, MT, take a look at Grantsdale, as some residences here were built between 2000 and the present. Like the City Center / Riverside, Grantsdale also offers an easy commute for most of its residents.

Charlos Heights

As with the other neighborhoods, Charlos Heights homes range from studios to single-family homes. Some residences in Charlos Heights were built between 1940 and 1969, so they’re a little older compared to houses in other Hamilton neighborhoods.

Living in Hamilton, MT

Hamilton, MT, has a small-town feel and is more suited to those looking for a tranquil life in natural surroundings. Residents would say that Hamilton is a beautiful place to live and a great place to raise a family. It’s a safe area with friendly people and some fantastic schools. This is a place for those looking for a more natural rhythm of life, however, this is not to say that Hamilton is a dull place to live in.

Hamilton is also a great city to move to if you want easy access to the great outdoors. With its proximity to the Bitterroot and Swan Mountains, you won’t lack outdoor activities if you live in Hamilton.

Cost of living

The cost of living in this city, although higher than the average in Montana is still more affordable compared to the national average. The overall cost of living index in Hamilton is 81.4, on an index where the US average is 100. Groceries are 8% cheaper than the national average, and healthcare costs are 4% lower. In Hamilton, you can get an excellent quality of life for a very reasonable cost.

Schools

There are eight elementary schools, five middle schools, and three high schools in Hamilton, which make up the Ravalli County R-1 School District. The top-ranked private school in Hamilton is Blodgett View Christian School. It offers instruction from kindergarten until the eighth grade and has 34 students.

Shopping

Hamilton Farmers Market Co-op

On summer Saturdays, you can shop at the Hamilton Farmers Market Co-op on Bedford and Third Streets. Here you’ll find fresh Ravalli County fruit, other locally farmed products, handcrafted goods, and sumptuous food, including bread, pies, and honey. Handcrafted goods include unique knives, jewelry, and towels. The Hamilton Farmers Market Co-op showcases over 100 merchants and great local music.

Ford’s Department Store

Ford’s Department Store is a family-owned business that has been selling affordable clothing since 1947. Aside from regular clothes for men, women, and children, it also sells Western wear and boots. You can also buy home decor, linens, and accessories at Ford’s Department Store. You’ll find it at 136 W Main St. and it’s open from Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

The Closet

The Closet is a women’s and junior’s contemporary clothing boutique that specializes in the unique, affordable, and trendy. It started out as a tiny room in downtown Hamilton in 2012 but has now expanded and become much loved by the community. The Closet is open from 10 AM to 6 PM from Monday to Saturday. It’s located at 164 South 3rd Street.

Between the Worlds

For unique gifts and spiritual items, head to Between the Worlds. This shop sells jewelry, books, crystals, and stones. It also sells collectibles and incense. If you’re looking for a special gift or are yourself interested in spiritual exploartion, you’ll be sure to find something at Between the Worlds. The shop’s motto is Open Hearts. Open Minds. It’s located at 205 West Main Street. Between the Worlds is open from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM from Monday to Saturday.

Drinking and Dining

As well as the usual restaurant franchises you’ll find in any city, Hamilton also has some unique places to dine and enjoy a drink. Hamilton is in the middle of apple country, so it goes without saying that there’ll be cideries, but you’ll also find breweries and distilleries.

Backroad Cider

Backroad Cider, where the fruit is picked and pressed by hand can be found at the old railroad station on 98 Marcus Street, at the intersection of Highway 93 and Main Street. There’s an ever-changing menu of what’s on tap at the Backroad Cider making it a place that always offers something new.

Bitter Root Brewing

If you like beer, make sure to drop by Bitter Root Brewing. Sample their handcrafted ales and sodas, which use locally sourced and seasonal ingredients whenever possible.

Bitter Root Brewing’s beers are accompanied by pub fare, including weekly and monthly specials. Most of its dishes are made from scratch. Look for Bitter Root Brewing just east of Highway 93 at Main Street across the railroad lines.

Westslope Distillery

Bourbon lovers will be thrilled by the bourbons made at Westslope Distillery, a family-owned business that uses local ingredients to make its bourbons. Bring your friends to its tasting room, where you can try its spirits and artisanal cocktails. They also serve cocktails to go so you can now enjoy your drinks at home or wherever you choose to picnic.

The Wild Mare

If you’re looking for an upmarket yet friendly steakhouse, try the Wild Mare. The menu has delectable starters and a variety of mains apart from the steaks. The extensive wine and drinks list will help you pair any meal with the perfect accompanying drink. You’ll find this restaurant at 283 2nd St. Corvallis.

Outdoor recreation

As previously mentioned, Hamilton is a place for those who love the great outdoors. You can have a picnic, go fishing and cycling, and enjoy a national forest.

Bitterroot National Forest

Montana and Idaho share the 1.6-million-acre Bitterroot National Forest, which can be found in the Northern Rocky Mountains. Here, you can spot wildlife such as bears, moose, bighorn sheep, mule, whitetail deer, and Rocky Mountain goats. Birdwatchers and photographers will delight in the falcons, other birds of prey, and songbirds that live in this forest. Don’t forget to look out for other wildlife, such as chipmunks, gophers, beavers, porcupines, woodchucks, and rabbits.

Bitterroot River

There’s no better place to angle for big trout than the Bitterroot River, which contains 14 distinct float tours and a number of wading possibilities. Try dry fly-fishing. If you’re new to fishing, The Bitterroot Anglers organizes fly-fishing outings and fly-fishing and guide-school courses.

Skalkaho Pass

If you enjoy cycling, head to Skalkaho Pass, in the Sapphire Mountains, which is situated 7,260 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Skalkaho Pass can be found within a 23,000-acre wildlife reserve ringed by extensive spruce and subalpine fir forests and pristine meadows. During the spring and summer, watch out for birds like the olive-sided Flycatcher, Steller and Gray jays, Brewer’s sparrow, dark-eyed juncos, and Hairy woodpeckers. You might even be able to hear some elk from the upper basins.

Other cultural attractions

Aside from shopping and drinking, there are other interesting cultural attractions in Hamilton.

Chapter One Bookstore

You can find a wide range of new books and a used paperback exchange at Chapter One Book Store, which sells books in over 60 categories. It also has a beloved children’s books department. The staff at Chapter One Book Store are friendly, well-read, and more than happy to help you find the perfect book.

For those who enjoy listening to books, Chapter One Book Store also sells new and secondhand audiobooks on cassettes and CDs.

Ponderosa Art Gallery

Ponderosa Art Gallery showcases a wide range of famous Montana and American artists. Enjoy wildlife and landscape exhibits, as well as shows featuring Western and Native American art, as well as portraits and nautical and sporting art.

Find the perfect home in Hamilton, MT with West Montana Homes

While West Montana Homes was only founded in 2021, founder and broker Vinda Milless has over 30 years of experience in helping clients buy the best homes for sale in Hamilton, MT.

You can expect excellent service from Vinda and her team who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to help you choose and acquire your ideal property from some of the best houses for sale in Hamilton, MT.

Talk to us to learn how to discover prime property for sale in Hamilton, MT. Call us today at 406.777.0710 or drop us a line to get started.