Market rankings · Montana
Restaurants and cafes in Montana
Markets across Montana ranked by the Groundwork market score for restaurants and cafes, with competitor counts and household spending for each.
- Listings
- 5,233
- 1,356 chain locations (26%)
- Official establishments
- 2,297
- +6.2% since 2019
- Household spending a year
- $1.7B
- On food away from home
- Listings per 10k households
- 114.0
- 4% above the U.S.
- Spending per listing
- $329K
- 11% below the U.S.
- Rank among states
- #46 of 51
- Market score 30 · Lower middle
A site report maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings around any address in Montana by name and distance, and the spending within reach.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Map listings as of September 2026 show 5,233 restaurants and cafes in Montana. Chain locations make up 26% of them, against 34% across the U.S. That comes to 114.0 for every 10,000 households, 4% above the U.S. rate of 109.8.
Household spending on food away from home in Montana comes to about $1.7B a year: $3,748 per household, 8% below the U.S. average. Spread across 5,233 restaurants and cafes, that is $329K per restaurant, 11% below the U.S. figure of $371K.
Official counts show 2,297 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in Montana in 2023, up 6.2% from 2019. That is one for every 200 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. Across the U.S., the count rose 6.0% over the same years. Since fiscal 2022, 85 SBA-backed loans worth $40.7M have gone to businesses classed as restaurants and other eating places in Montana.
Among the 50 states and DC, Montana ranks #46 for restaurants and cafes, with a Groundwork market score of 30 (lower middle). Of the 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Montana, the Helena metro area scores highest (77). Of the 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Montana, the Kalispell area scores highest (47).
Every market in Montana for restaurants and cafes
Download the ranking (CSV)Numbered by Groundwork market score among the markets based in Montana, highest first; the U.S. rank compares each market with every other of its kind. A metro area that crosses a state line is listed in each state it reaches, and numbered only in the state its page is under. How the score works.
Metro areas
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Helena, MT | 77 | 357 | 91.5 | $435K | +7.7% | #30 of 387 |
| 2Billings, MT | 49 | 808 | 103.1 | $378K | +4.8% | #197 of 387 |
| 3Missoula, MT | 49 | 574 | 104.7 | $365K | +4.7% | #198 of 387 |
| 4Bozeman, MT | 39 | 731 | 142.7 | $306K | +7.7% | #271 of 387 |
| 5Great Falls, MT | 35 | 357 | 100.2 | $356K | +0.7% | #292 of 387 |
Small-town markets
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Kalispell, MT | 47 | 536 | 121.2 | $313K | +10.1% | #299 of 538 |
| 2Butte-Silver Bow, MT | 30 | 189 | 122.6 | $268K | +2.6% | #461 of 538 |
Counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Jefferson County, MT | 85 | 35 | 70.1 | $623K | +9.8% | #62 of 2,405 |
| 2Ravalli County, MT | 66 | 174 | 93.2 | $390K | +9.4% | #527 of 2,405 |
| 3Lewis and Clark County, MT | 62 | 293 | 93.9 | $418K | +5.8% | #688 of 2,405 |
| 4Yellowstone County, MT | 54 | 685 | 98.0 | $397K | +4.5% | #1,019 of 2,405 |
| 5Big Horn County, MT | 52 | 27 | 70.6 | $444K | −2.5% | #1,086 of 2,405 |
| 6Missoula County, MT | 51 | 552 | 104.8 | $366K | +4.4% | #1,157 of 2,405 |
| 7Gallatin County, MT | 43 | 731 | 142.7 | $306K | +7.7% | #1,513 of 2,405 |
| 8Sanders County, MT | 42 | 59 | 108.2 | $297K | +12.9% | #1,556 of 2,405 |
| 9Flathead County, MT | 41 | 536 | 121.2 | $313K | +10.1% | #1,590 of 2,405 |
| 10Cascade County, MT | 40 | 357 | 100.2 | $356K | +0.7% | #1,615 of 2,405 |
| 11Lake County, MT | 37 | 150 | 119.3 | $294K | +6.9% | #1,758 of 2,405 |
| 12Fergus County, MT | 36 | 51 | 96.2 | $344K | +3.1% | #1,780 of 2,405 |
| 13Carbon County, MT | 35 | 84 | 180.1 | $217K | +9.1% | #1,854 of 2,405 |
| 14Park County, MT | 32 | 128 | 153.0 | $245K | +5.7% | #1,965 of 2,405 |
| 15Custer County, MT | 30 | 59 | 117.1 | $303K | +1.5% | #2,033 of 2,405 |
| 16Lincoln County, MT | 30 | 107 | 117.8 | $257K | +13.1% | #2,045 of 2,405 |
| 17Richland County, MT | 27 | 58 | 131.2 | $299K | −1.3% | #2,130 of 2,405 |
| 18Silver Bow County, MT | 26 | 189 | 122.6 | $268K | +2.6% | #2,165 of 2,405 |
| 19Hill County, MT | 18 | 78 | 125.7 | $256K | −0.5% | #2,326 of 2,405 |
| 20Roosevelt County, MT | 12 | 39 | 126.2 | $253K | −5.2% | #2,383 of 2,405 |
| 21Glacier County, MT | 9 | 68 | 158.5 | $193K | −2.0% | #2,399 of 2,405 |
| Beaverhead County, MT | Not scored | 73 | 173.8 | $194K | +7.1% | |
| Deer Lodge County, MT | Not scored | 58 | 129.7 | $249K | +3.0% | |
| Madison County, MT | Not scored | 60 | 160.4 | $232K | +15.8% | |
| Stillwater County, MT | Not scored | 39 | 102.4 | $404K | +5.0% |
Show all 56 counties
| Market | Score | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Population growth | U.S. rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County, MT | Not scored | 39 | 107.9 | $334K | −2.6% | |
| Rosebud County, MT | Not scored | 40 | 130.3 | $254K | −0.7% | |
| Broadwater County, MT | Not scored | 29 | 102.8 | $373K | +23.8% | |
| Valley County, MT | Not scored | 39 | 132.2 | $266K | −2.4% | |
| Powell County, MT | Not scored | 34 | 139.8 | $244K | +3.1% | |
| Blaine County, MT | Not scored | 18 | 78.9 | $432K | −2.1% | |
| Teton County, MT | Not scored | 23 | 93.2 | $368K | +3.9% | |
| Pondera County, MT | Not scored | 17 | 75.0 | $429K | +3.2% | |
| Chouteau County, MT | Not scored | 27 | 125.1 | $263K | −0.8% | |
| Musselshell County, MT | Not scored | 13 | 60.5 | $534K | +17.6% | |
| Toole County, MT | Not scored | 27 | 145.8 | $232K | +4.9% | |
| Mineral County, MT | Not scored | 22 | 102.3 | $335K | +13.5% | |
| Phillips County, MT | Not scored | 22 | 124.6 | $260K | −0.1% | |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | Not scored | 20 | 128.9 | $286K | +2.4% | |
| Sheridan County, MT | Not scored | 17 | 115.2 | $312K | −2.9% | |
| Granite County, MT | Not scored | 28 | 184.9 | $183K | +10.6% | |
| Fallon County, MT | Not scored | 14 | 118.8 | $331K | −2.3% | |
| Judith Basin County, MT | Not scored | 12 | 130.7 | $280K | +6.8% | |
| Wheatland County, MT | Not scored | 19 | 215.2 | $146K | +1.2% | |
| Meagher County, MT | Not scored | 14 | 151.0 | $235K | +11.2% | |
| Liberty County, MT | Not scored | 8 | 110.5 | $295K | +0.1% | |
| Powder River County, MT | Not scored | 7 | 98.9 | $369K | +5.1% | |
| McCone County, MT | Not scored | 8 | 100.3 | $347K | −0.6% | |
| Daniels County, MT | Not scored | 15 | 204.4 | $157K | −2.3% | |
| Carter County, MT | Not scored | 5 | 83.3 | $368K | −1.6% | |
| Prairie County, MT | Not scored | 4 | 73.4 | $431K | +1.7% | |
| Wibaux County, MT | Not scored | 7 | 151.8 | $240K | −5.4% | |
| Garfield County, MT | Not scored | 5 | 115.7 | $308K | −1.9% | |
| Golden Valley County, MT | Not scored | 3 | 79.8 | $405K | +2.7% | |
| Treasure County, MT | Not scored | 5 | 138.9 | $243K | −4.0% | |
| Petroleum County, MT | Not scored | 2 | 90.5 | $367K | +9.2% |
Markets with fewer than 5 restaurants and cafes on map listings, and counties under 10,000 people, aren’t scored; they’re listed last in each table.
Questions
How many restaurants and cafes are in Montana?
There are 5,233 restaurants and cafes on map listings in Montana as of September 2026. 1,356 of them (26%) are chain locations. The listings count every restaurant, cafe, bar, bakery and food truck. Official counts show 2,297 businesses with payroll classed as restaurants and other eating places in 2023, up 6.2% from 2019. Another 353 one-person businesses have no payroll, by official counts.
How much do households in Montana spend on food away from home?
About $1.7B a year, or $3,748 per household. That is 8% below the U.S. average (an index of 92, where 100 is the U.S. average). Spread across the 5,233 restaurants and cafes on map listings, it comes to $329K per restaurant. It is estimated from the incomes of the 458,859 households in Montana and national spending patterns by income.
How does Montana compare with the U.S. for restaurants and cafes?
Montana has 114.0 restaurants and cafes per 10,000 households, 4% above the U.S. rate of 109.8. Spending per restaurant is $329K, 11% below the U.S. figure of $371K. At the national ratio of restaurants and cafes to household spending, Montana would have about 4,638, against 5,233 on map listings. There is one business with payroll in the industry for every 200 households, against one for every 209 across the U.S. The official count rose 6.2% from 2019 to 2023, against +6.0% for the U.S.
Which market in Montana has the highest market score for restaurants and cafes?
Among 5 scored metro areas in or partly in Montana, the Helena metro area scores highest, at 77 (high). Among 2 scored small-town markets in or partly in Montana, the Kalispell area scores highest, at 47 (lower middle). Among 21 scored counties in Montana, Jefferson County scores highest, at 85 (high). Scores compare each market with others of its kind across the U.S.
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. Montana scores 30 for restaurants and cafes (lower middle), #46 of the 50 states and DC.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Montana. It maps the restaurants and cafes on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
Restaurants and cafes in other states
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Top markets for restaurants and cafes across the U.S. · All business types in Montana
Related business types in Montana
- Sit-down restaurants2,403 listings
- Fast food and sandwich shops539 listings
- Pizza343 listings
- Coffee shops and cafes883 listings
- Bakeries and dessert shops364 listings
Screening a site or an acquisition in Montana?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.