Montana
Population1.1m
Counties56county-level areas on the 2024 Census map
Density2.9people per km² of land
Median household income$69,92229th percentile of states
How it has changed
The state’s own figures from 2010 to 2024. A measure published for only one year shows as a single point instead of a line.
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The state figure, and the range across its counties
The state figure is the one its own agency publishes. It is never an average of the counties. You cannot average medians (middle values) to get a new median, and a rate has to be worked out again from the added-up counts. The county range next to it shows what a single state number has to hide.
Sometimes fewer counties report than the state has. The missing ones were held back because their counts were too small to publish — mostly deaths. A range from only part of the state is not the state’s full range. It can even sit entirely above or below the state figure. So the number of counties reporting is shown next to it.
You can sort by any column. 47 of these 185 measures have a clear better end, and those are ranked best first. For example, the lowest infant death rate is first place, and so is the highest life expectancy. The rest have no better end, so they are ranked highest first, and the cell says “highest” instead of “best”. A state is not winning or losing by how much of its tax comes from severance taxes (taxes on oil, gas and minerals taken from the ground).
| Alcohol-involved share of driving deaths | 0.448% | 51st best of 51 | 0% | 0.455% | 0.857% | 43 |
| Always wears a seatbelt | 88.5 | 46th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Arrivals per 100 people staying | 4.13 | 10th highest of 51 | 1.33 | 5.86 | 10.6 | 49 |
| Arrivals per 100 staying, $200,000 or more | 4.38 | 7th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Arthritis | 27.4 | 33rd best of 46 | — | — | — | — |
| Binge drinking | 22.1 | 46th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 50 | 54.7 | 18th highest of 52 | 37.2 | 55.4 | 100 | 20 |
| Black Protestant adherents | 0.06 | 48th highest of 51 | 0 | 0 | 0.81 | 56 |
| Black-white residential segregation | 80.4 | 1st highest of 51 | 59.3 | 74.7 | 84.9 | 6 |
| Business closing rate | 9.71 | 13th highest of 51 | 0 | 9.35 | 24.5 | 56 |
| Business opening rate | 11.4 | 11th highest of 51 | 0 | 10.9 | 27.6 | 56 |
| Catholic adherents | 10.4 | 38th highest of 51 | 1.86 | 9.29 | 62.4 | 56 |
| Checkup in the past year | 70.2 | 46th highest of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Child mortality | 62.9 | 40th best of 51 | 40.1 | 61.7 | 171 | 14 |
| Child poverty rate, ages 0-17 | 12.8% | 17th best of 51 | 5.8% | 16.8% | 36.1% | 56 |
| Children in single-parent households | 0.201% | 42nd highest of 51 | 0% | 0.204% | 0.379% | 33 |
| Congregations per 10,000 people | 16.3 | 13th highest of 51 | 9.08 | 30.7 | 65 | 56 |
| Current asthma | 12.4 | 44th best of 47 | — | — | — | — |
| Current smoking | 14.1 | 29th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Departures per 100 people staying | 3.52 | 12th highest of 51 | 2.79 | 5.33 | 7.95 | 49 |
| Departures per 100 staying, $200,000 or more | 2.63 | 17th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Depression | 25.8 | 42nd best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Diabetes | 10.3 | 2nd best of 45 | — | — | — | — |
| Difficulty concentrating or deciding | 15.3 | 37th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Difficulty running errands alone | 8.22 | 32nd best of 46 | — | — | — | — |
| Difficulty walking or climbing stairs | 14.1 | 17th best of 47 | — | — | — | — |
| Disability-free score | -0.292 | 29th highest of 47 | -2.4 | 0.33 | 1.21 | 56 |
| Drug overdose deaths | 17.2 | 6th best of 51 | 7.13 | 16.2 | 45 | 10 |
| Effective general sales tax rate | 0 | 51st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Effective individual income tax rate | 3.05 | 10th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Effective property tax rate | 0.75 | 30th highest of 52 | 0.409 | 0.708 | 1.52 | 56 |
| Effective property tax rate on income | 3.03 | 16th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Evangelical Protestant adherents | 13.7 | 25th highest of 51 | 0 | 11.6 | 51.9 | 56 |
| Fair or poor health | 18 | 24th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Fine particulate matter | 5.6 | 9th best of 51 | 2.3 | 5.6 | 13.8 | 55 |
| Firearm fatalities | 21.8 | 43rd best of 51 | 16.9 | 25.4 | 41.8 | 20 |
| Firearm share of suicides, standardised | 117 | 11th highest of 51 | 88.8 | 125 | 175 | 27 |
| Firearm suicide rate | 18.1 | 2nd highest of 51 | 15.6 | 21 | 47.7 | 27 |
| Flu vaccination among Medicare enrollees | 0.42% | 43rd best of 51 | 0.05% | 0.315% | 0.55% | 56 |
| Gini index of income inequality | 0.463 | 23rd best of 52 | 0.384 | 0.45 | 0.522 | 56 |
| Has health insurance | 90.7 | 31st highest of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Health score | -0.124 | 32nd highest of 49 | -1.55 | 0.0396 | 0.977 | 56 |
| High blood pressure | 30.8 | 7th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| High cholesterol | 29.4 | 1st best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| High school graduation | 0.852% | 30th best of 48 | 0.677% | 0.856% | 0.925% | 22 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.4% | 16th highest of 52 | 59.7% | 73.1% | 86.1% | 56 |
| Homicide rate | 4.37 | 19th best of 51 | 1.87 | 4 | 23.9 | 8 |
| Homicide rate, annual | 4.41 | 34th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| How much faster the top bracket arrives than everyone else | 1.14 | 5th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Income gap between arrivals and departures | $13,951 | 5th highest of 51 | $-22,530 | $6,645 | $46,130 | 46 |
| Infant mortality | 5.13 | 15th best of 51 | 3.38 | 5.03 | 15.3 | 6 |
| Injury deaths | 103 | 40th best of 51 | 57 | 115 | 221 | 42 |
| Life expectancy | 76.9 years | 26th best of 51 | 60.4 years | 76.5 years | 84.7 years | 48 |
| Mainline Protestant adherents | 4.68 | 31st highest of 51 | 1.32 | 5.11 | 32 | 56 |
| Material security score | 0.364 | 22nd highest of 51 | -1.86 | 0.456 | 1.06 | 56 |
| Mean adjusted gross income per return | $84,998 | 32nd best of 51 | $45,430 | $67,780 | $117,800 | 55 |
| Mean income of arriving households | $78,915 | 26th highest of 51 | $31,310 | $61,370 | $108,500 | 49 |
| Mean income of departing households | $64,963 | 41st highest of 51 | $16,130 | $58,250 | $80,240 | 49 |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.2 min | 5th best of 52 | 12.9 min | 19 min | 34 min | 56 |
| Median age | 40.2 years | 12th highest of 52 | 30.5 years | 44.1 years | 59.9 years | 56 |
| Median gross rent | $1,031 | 36th highest of 52 | $485 | $800 | $1,574 | 55 |
| Median home value | $338,100 | 19th highest of 52 | $92,300 | $214,800 | $604,900 | 56 |
| Median household income | $69,922 | 38th best of 52 | $45,130 | $61,860 | $87,450 | 56 |
| Median household income (model-based) | $70,939 | 35th best of 51 | $47,540 | $59,530 | $90,940 | 56 |
| Median property tax bill | 2,535 | 28th highest of 52 | 654 | 1,718 | 3,833 | 56 |
| Meets aerobic guidelines | 66.7 | 4th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Membership organisations | 14.1 | 5th best of 51 | 0 | 10.4 | 27.1 | 56 |
| Millionaire returns as a share of all returns | 0.406 | 22nd highest of 52 | — | — | — | — |
| Millionaires' share of all income | 13.7 | 22nd highest of 52 | — | — | — | — |
| Motor vehicle crash deaths | 17.9 | 45th best of 51 | 9.84 | 19.2 | 90 | 19 |
| Net business formation rate | 1.71 | 10th highest of 51 | -12.2 | 1.81 | 27.6 | 56 |
| Net domestic migration rate | 8.12 | 6th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Net migration per 100 people staying | 0.61 | 7th highest of 51 | -4.38 | 0.469 | 4.43 | 46 |
| Net migration per 100 staying, $200,000 or more | 1.75 | 4th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Obesity | 30.5 | 11th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Orthodox Christian adherents | 0.08 | 40th highest of 51 | 0 | 0 | 0.44 | 56 |
| Other religion adherents | 5.99 | 17th highest of 51 | 0 | 5.63 | 21 | 56 |
| People per tax return | 2 | 39th highest of 51 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 56 |
| Per capita income | $39,842 | 29th best of 52 | $21,140 | $35,160 | $51,150 | 56 |
| Per capita personal income | $66,181 | 27th best of 51 | $39,030 | $57,520 | $89,820 | 56 |
| Poverty rate | 12% | 29th best of 52 | 6.29% | 12.4% | 30.6% | 53 |
| Poverty rate (model-based) | 11.8% | 26th best of 51 | 8.3% | 13.3% | 28% | 56 |
| Premature mortality | 403 | 27th best of 51 | 207 | 416 | 1,337 | 49 |
| Preventable hospital stays | 1,772 | 5th best of 51 | 133 | 1,762 | 3,943 | 49 |
| Private job growth | 2.14 | 25th highest of 52 | -19.5 | 1.41 | 112 | 56 |
| Religious adherents | 34.9 | 48th highest of 51 | 7.46 | 37 | 85.6 | 56 |
| Republican share of the two-party vote, 2024 | 60.3 | 15th highest of 51 | 38.9 | 75.8 | 95.1 | 56 |
| Returns claiming charitable contributions | 5.81% | 26th highest of 51 | 0% | 3.41% | 8.36% | 56 |
| Returns claiming the earned income credit | 11.7% | 37th highest of 51 | 0% | 11.7% | 31.6% | 56 |
| Returns reporting capital gains | 21.8% | 9th highest of 51 | 9.4% | 23.4% | 44.4% | 56 |
| Returns reporting unemployment compensation | 3.02% | 19th highest of 51 | 0% | 2.34% | 5.68% | 56 |
| Safety score | -1.23 | 47th highest of 51 | -5.15 | -0.671 | 0.645 | 16 |
| Share aged 65 and over | 19.7% | 8th highest of 52 | 11.9% | 23.6% | 34.5% | 56 |
| Share American Indian or Alaska Native, not Hispanic | 5.5% | 5th highest of 51 | 0% | 2.38% | 65.3% | 32 |
| Share Asian, not Hispanic | 0.809% | 49th highest of 52 | 0% | 0% | 1.59% | 23 |
| Share Black, not Hispanic | 0.474% | 51st highest of 52 | 0% | 0.104% | 1.45% | 22 |
| Share divorced | 12.5% | 11th highest of 52 | 3.58% | 12.7% | 17.7% | 54 |
| Share foreign-born | 2.29% | 51st highest of 52 | 0% | 2.02% | 4.06% | 24 |
| Share Hispanic or Latino, any race | 4.39% | 48th highest of 52 | 0% | 3.37% | 6.4% | 42 |
| Share in the same house a year ago | 84.9% | 37th highest of 51 | 80% | 87.8% | 97.3% | 56 |
| Share Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, not Hispanic | 0.0435% | 29th highest of 49 | 0% | 0% | 0.865% | 34 |
| Share never married | 29.9% | 46th highest of 52 | 12% | 25.7% | 51.1% | 55 |
| Share now married | 52.1% | 8th highest of 52 | 33.6% | 55.5% | 71.7% | 56 |
| Share of births to unmarried women | 26% | 41st highest of 52 | 0% | 0% | 100% | 22 |
| Share of some other race, not Hispanic | 0.427% | 26th highest of 52 | 0% | 0% | 0.403% | 17 |
| Share of suicides by firearm | 64.4% | 6th highest of 51 | 42.4% | 69.4% | 100% | 27 |
| Share of taxes from alcohol | 0.733 | 11th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from corporate income | 4.62 | 34th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from corporation licences | 0.105 | 25th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from death and gift | 0 | 51st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from gambling | 1.2 | 11th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from general sales and gross receipts | 0 | 51st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from individual income | 34.3 | 3rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from insurance premiums | 2.46 | 7th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from licences | 8.44 | 3rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from motor fuel | 4.34 | 2nd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from motor vehicle licences | 3.16 | 4th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from occupation and business licences | 2.97 | 3rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from other taxes | 4.37 | 12th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from property | 34.1 | 11th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from property transfer | 0 | 51st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from public utilities | 0.586 | 34th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from selective sales | 14.2 | 10th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from severance | 4.23 | 8th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from sports betting and pari-mutuels | 0 | 51st highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of taxes from tobacco | 1.01 | 18th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Share of two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.27% | 14th highest of 52 | 0% | 3.98% | 10.2% | 43 |
| Share separated | 1.09% | 45th highest of 52 | 0% | 1.14% | 2% | 16 |
| Share White, not Hispanic | 84.1% | 5th highest of 52 | 27% | 89.5% | 99.3% | 56 |
| Share widowed | 5.58% | 29th highest of 52 | 3.02% | 6.68% | 13.5% | 55 |
| Share with a bachelor's degree or higher | 34.5% | 23rd best of 52 | 16.5% | 25.7% | 53.1% | 56 |
| State income tax as a share of income | 3.05 | 7th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| State taxes as a share of income | 6.28 | 26th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| Suicide rate | 27.6 | 49th best of 51 | 21 | 35.5 | 59.8 | 22 |
| Top state income tax rate | 6.75% | 12th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| Total tax burden | 8.9 | 38th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Two weeks of poor mental health | 19.8 | 44th best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Two weeks of poor physical health | 13.5 | 32nd best of 47 | — | — | — | — |
| Unemployment rate | 2.73% | 11th best of 52 | 1.7% | 2.65% | 5.2% | 56 |
| Vacancy rate | 13.4% | 15th highest of 52 | 5.58% | 20% | 47.2% | 56 |
| Went without care over cost | 11 | 21st best of 49 | — | — | — | — |
| Years of potential life lost | 8,782 | 29th best of 51 | 4,276 | 9,728 | 32,700 | 37 |
| Aggregate travel time to work | 9,019,300 min | 46th highest of 52 | 2,675 min | 50,310 min | 1,427,000 min | 56 |
| Business establishments | 36,621 | 40th highest of 51 | 7 | 168 | 5,621 | 56 |
| Business establishments closed | 3,524 | 39th highest of 51 | 0 | 16.5 | 606 | 56 |
| Business establishments opened | 4,143 | 39th highest of 51 | 0 | 19.5 | 708 | 56 |
| Employed | 556,640 | 45th highest of 52 | 230 | 3,506 | 86,270 | 56 |
| Foreign-born population | 25,327 | 51st highest of 52 | 0 | 321 | 4,959 | 23 |
| Gross domestic product | $74,690,000k | 47th highest of 51 | $21,560k | $425,600k | $13,450,000k | 56 |
| Housing units | 522,940 | 44th highest of 52 | 295 | 3,474 | 73,360 | 56 |
| Labour force | 572,260 | 45th highest of 52 | 239 | 3,624 | 88,440 | 56 |
| Millionaire tax returns | 2,250 | 40th highest of 52 | — | — | — | — |
| Net domestic migration | 9,110 | 15th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Occupied housing units | 452,680 | 44th highest of 52 | 200 | 2,923 | 69,270 | 56 |
| Owner-occupied housing units | 314,270 | 43rd highest of 52 | 154 | 2,042 | 48,010 | 56 |
| People covered by a tax return | 987,620 | 43rd highest of 51 | 420 | 6,940 | 151,200 | 56 |
| People in households earning $200,000 or more who did not move | 80,376 | 45th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| People who did not move | 862,580 | 43rd highest of 51 | 358 | 5,836 | 134,500 | 56 |
| Personal income | $74,870,000k | 43rd highest of 51 | $21,930k | $449,100k | $11,920,000k | 56 |
| Population | 1,131,300 | 43rd highest of 51 | 543 | 7,769 | 170,700 | 56 |
| Population | 1,132,800 | 43rd highest of 51 | 554 | 7,753 | 170,800 | 56 |
| Population (firearm measures) | 1,017,600 | 44th highest of 51 | 4,628 | 11,820 | 153,700 | 27 |
| Population (WONDER) | 1,132,800 | 43rd highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| Population aged 15 and over | 911,590 | 45th highest of 52 | 350 | 6,174 | 135,200 | 56 |
| Population aged 25 and over | 770,340 | 45th highest of 52 | 328 | 5,439 | 115,300 | 56 |
| Population aged 65 and over | 217,660 | 44th highest of 52 | 112 | 1,464 | 29,850 | 56 |
| Population below the poverty line | 130,000 | 43rd highest of 52 | 82 | 808 | 16,740 | 53 |
| Population below the poverty line | 130,300 | 42nd highest of 51 | 72 | 988 | 16,460 | 56 |
| Population for whom poverty status is determined | 1,079,200 | 44th highest of 52 | 401 | 7,300 | 163,600 | 56 |
| Population for whom poverty status is determined | 1,104,200 | 43rd highest of 51 | 554 | 7,653 | 166,300 | 56 |
| Population in the same house one year ago | 937,910 | 44th highest of 51 | 356 | 6,556 | 139,600 | 56 |
| Population with a bachelor's degree or higher | 266,070 | 46th highest of 52 | 89 | 1,138 | 42,070 | 56 |
| Population, decennial census | 1,084,200 | 44th highest of 51 | 496 | 7,311 | 164,700 | 56 |
| Presidential votes cast, 2024 | 602,960 | 42nd highest of 51 | 324 | 3,804 | 81,390 | 56 |
| Private jobs | 421,890 | 46th highest of 52 | 37 | 1,552 | 77,610 | 56 |
| State and local tax collections | $6,660,400k | 47th highest of 51 | — | — | — | — |
| State individual income tax collected | $2,286,800k | 37th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| State tax collected, all taxes | $4,704,600k | 45th highest of 50 | — | — | — | — |
| Tax returns filed | 553,850 | 44th highest of 51 | 230 | 3,590 | 83,960 | 56 |
| Total population | 1,105,100 | 44th highest of 52 | 401 | 7,425 | 167,300 | 56 |
| Unemployed | 15,627 | 47th highest of 52 | 9 | 96 | 2,172 | 56 |
| Vacant housing units | 70,256 | 43rd highest of 52 | 95 | 662 | 7,380 | 56 |
| Women aged 15 to 50 | 239,580 | 45th highest of 52 | 55 | 1,460 | 38,180 | 56 |
| Women who gave birth in the past year | 13,117 | 44th highest of 52 | 72 | 185 | 2,768 | 17 |
| Workers aged 16 and over who commute | 470,950 | 45th highest of 52 | 188 | 2,930 | 76,900 | 56 |
Links inside Montana
These are the site’s strongest pairs nationwide, worked out again using only this state’s counties. The r column shows how closely two measures rise and fall together, from −1 (opposite) to +1 (in step); 0 means no link. A link that shows up nationally but disappears inside every state is really about differences between states. A link that also holds here is not.
These figures are before adjusting for anything. Unlike the national figures, they do not take out population density, income or education.
| Pair | r within MT | counties |
|---|---|---|
| Median age × Share aged 65 and overInside Montana, where Median age is higher, Share aged 65 and over tends to be higher: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.92 | 56 |
| Self-care disability × Material security scoreInside Montana, where Self-care disability is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.96 | 56 |
| Stroke × Material security scoreInside Montana, where Stroke is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.95 | 56 |
| Food insecurity × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Montana, where Food insecurity is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.74 | 56 |
| Lack of reliable transportation × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Montana, where Lack of reliable transportation is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.75 | 56 |
| Vision disability × Material security scoreInside Montana, where Vision disability is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.95 | 56 |
| Housing insecurity × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Montana, where Housing insecurity is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.75 | 56 |
| Received food stamps × Material security scoreInside Montana, where Received food stamps is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.96 | 56 |
| Self-care disability × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Montana, where Self-care disability is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a moderate link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.68 | 56 |
| Vision disability × Returns claiming the earned income creditInside Montana, where Vision disability is higher, Returns claiming the earned income credit tends to be higher: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | +0.74 | 56 |
| Fair or poor self-rated health × Material security scoreInside Montana, where Fair or poor self-rated health is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.95 | 56 |
| Independent-living disability × Material security scoreInside Montana, where Independent-living disability is higher, Material security score tends to be lower: a strong link across 56 counties, before adjusting for anything. | -0.96 | 56 |
What this state is divided into
56 county-level areas, largest first. Each one is compared with its peers — the counties across the country most like it — not with the rest of this state.
Yellowstone County · Gallatin County · Missoula County · Flathead County · Cascade County · Lewis and Clark County · Ravalli County · Silver Bow County · Lake County · Lincoln County · Park County · Hill County · Glacier County · Big Horn County · Sanders County · Jefferson County · Custer County · Fergus County · Richland County · Carbon County · Roosevelt County · Beaverhead County · Deer Lodge County · Stillwater County · Madison County · Dawson County · Rosebud County · Valley County · Broadwater County · Powell County · Blaine County · Teton County · Pondera County · Chouteau County · Musselshell County · Toole County · Mineral County · Phillips County · Sweet Grass County · Sheridan County · Granite County · Fallon County · Judith Basin County · Wheatland County · Meagher County · Liberty County · McCone County · Powder River County · Daniels County · Carter County · Prairie County · Wibaux County · Garfield County · Golden Valley County · Treasure County · Petroleum County