Located in Madison County
59729Nestled among the mountain ranges and high desert of southwest Montana, Ennis is a small town with fewer than 1,000 people. Shaped by its natural surroundings, it has a classic frontier feel: light on modern amenities but full of character. Beyond the open green spaces, people are drawn to Ennis for its privacy, newer homes and larger lots. Families also appreciate the area’s highly rated schools.
Even though Ennis is best known for its wide-open lots, there are also more traditional neighborhoods with paved streets, sidewalks and fenced-in backyards. Most of the homes here were built between the 1970s and today, and new developments and land purchases are popping up all the time. You’ll see plenty of Cape Cods, cabins and ranch-style homes, which generally sell between the upper $300,000s and the mid-$600,000s. “It still has that small cowboy feel to the town,” says Susie Dixson, an agent with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties. Many yards are dotted with shade trees, and it’s common for homes to have mountain views right from the driveway. On the edge of town, homes are usually on multi-acre lots, often surrounded by foothills, scrubgrass fields and sweeping views of the Gravelly, Madison or Tobacco Root mountain ranges. These properties tend to embrace an Old West vibe, with rustic details and outbuildings for livestock. These typically sell between the low $500,000s and about $1.5 million. According to Kristie Vessey, an associate at Exp Realty, the mix of home styles attracts a wide range of buyers. “We have families, remote workers, retirees and second-home owners,” she says. “We’re even getting some from Bozeman and Big Sky that are getting priced out of the market.” HOAs are fairly common, with monthly fees usually between $10 and $50, covering things like road maintenance and snow removal. Though land purchases are popular in the area, there’s no guarantee of water rights unless specified.
Students are served by Ennis Public Schools, a highly rated school district with fewer than 500 students across all grades, leading to enviable student-to-teacher ratios. In recent years, the district has expanded STEM offerings and classroom technology while maintaining a small, community-based school structure.
With its rural setting, infrastructure and weather are important details when you’re buying a home in Ennis:
Set on the Madison River, Ennis is a well-loved fly fishing destination. “A lot of buyers come out for that,” says Vessey. “Then they end up falling in love with it and buying a home.” However, that’s just scratching the surface when it comes to outdoor recreation. “We’ve got hiking, hunting and horseback riding,” says Vessey. “We’re close to Island Park, Idaho, which is huge for snowmobiling, and Yellowstone National Park is about an hour away.” Madison Meadows is a public golf course with 9 holes, tennis courts and regular leagues and tournaments.
Most of the town’s shopping is limited to a collection of mom and pop spots along Main Street and Highway 287, including sporting goods, clothing, pharmacies and Madison Foods: the area grocery store. Vessey says that most locals head to Bozeman for any bigger shopping needs. “If you’re okay with a town that doesn’t have a mall or a Target, then Ennis might be for you,” says Dixson. However, the area has several locally owned restaurants, including the Alley Bistro, which offers family friendly fine dining with different steak options and a kids menu. The Ennis Sunrise Café is a classic greasy spoon with daily fried doughnuts and a ready to go menu.
Vessey says Ennis feels central and easy for day-to-day life. “We have everything you need here, but within an hour we have even more,” she says. Most hospital visits are handled locally at Madison Valley Medical Center. Bozeman is about 50 miles away, and Big Sky is roughly 80, but she says locals don’t think twice about those drives. “That’s close enough for a work commute and close enough for a shopping trip,” she says. “That hour you spend in the car? We call that windshield time. And with everything around us, windshield time is always beautiful.”
Interested in learning more about homes in this area? Reach out to , an experienced agent in this area.
Joe Duval
Montana Life Real Estate
(406) 518-7622
101 Total Sales
3 in Ennis
$620K - $830K Price Range
Kristie Vessey
eXp Realty, LLC
(406) 476-7932
97 Total Sales
63 in Ennis
$87K - $1.6M Price Range
Brandy Hilton
PureWest Real Estate Ennis
(406) 308-5644
30 Total Sales
23 in Ennis
$85K - $949K Price Range
Charlie Eubank
Small Dog Realty
(406) 946-5462
123 Total Sales
1 in Ennis
$500,000 Price
Tamara Williams
Tamara Williams and Company
(406) 946-5157
236 Total Sales
1 in Ennis
$1,100,000 Price
Susie Dixson
Coldwell Banker Distinctive Pr
(406) 602-0847
66 Total Sales
1 in Ennis
$133,000 Price
On average, homes in Ennis, MT sell after 111 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Ennis, MT over the last 12 months is $573,750, down 10% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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