Income and Poverty in the State of Montana

The poverty rate in the State of Montana has declined by 0.2 percent since the amount published in 2000, moving from 14.6 percent to 14.4 percent.

As the median income level saw a growth since 2000 in the State of Montana, the Race/Ethnicity group that went through the most dramatic growth in median household income was the White category. This group felt an increase of 31.9 percent since 2000. The Black or African American Race/Ethnicity category has been least effected by the income level growth in Montana, encountering a 42.4 percent decline in median household income from 2000 to 2005.

Black or African American householders reported household income levels that were 20.8 percent less than the all population median published in the 2000 Census, with a median of $30,586. Hispanic in Montanareported a median household income of $32,732, this median is 15.3 percent less than reported value of the areas total household median income for all households. The Asian householders in the area have reported their median household incomes at $28,570. This household income level is 26.1 percent less than the reported median household income for all households in the state. The American Indian and Alaska Native householders in Montana reported a median household income of $26,348, this was 31.8 percent less than the median income level in this area. In the State of Montana, White headed households reported a median household income (2005 Dollars) of $39,524 according to the 2000 Dencennial Census, which was 2.3 percent greater than the median in the year 2000.

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Montana range, in terms of total household income, from a high of $48,562 in Jefferson County to a low of $28,205 in Petroleum County.

Top ten counties in highest household income in the State of Montana
Total Annual Household Income (Adjusted to 2005 Dollars)

1. Jefferson County ($48,562)
2. Stillwater County ($45,870 )
3. Gallatin County ($44,600)
4. Lewis and Clark County ($43,711)
5. Yellowstone County ($42,971)
6. Rosebud County ($42,001)
7. Flathead County ($40,325)
8. Missoula County ($40,311)
9. Cascade County ($38,576)
10. Broadwater County ($38,246)

According to the 2000 Census, the counties in the State of Montana range, in terms of rate a poverty, from a high of 32.4 percent in Roosevelt County to a low of 9 percent in Jefferson County.

Top ten counties in terms of poverty rate in the State of Montana
Total Percent of Population Living Below Poverty

1. Roosevelt County (32.4 percent)
2. Big Horn County (29.2 )
3. Blaine County (28.1 percent)
4. Glacier County (27.3 percent)
5. Golden Valley County (25.8 percent)
6. Petroleum County (23.2 percent)
7. Rosebud County (22.4 percent)
8. Garfield County (21.5 percent)
9. Judith Basin County (21.1 percent)
10. Chouteau County (20.5 percent)


When analyzed against other States in the US, the State of Montana had a relatively low median income for households of $38,638 (2005 Dollars). The income level is 27.2 percent lower than the median household income in the United States of $49,133.

Evaluated with other States across the nation, the State of Montana may be understood as having a relatively high poverty rate amongst the population, with a poverty rate of 14.6 percent of people living in a family with an income below the poverty level in 1999. The American Indian and Alaska Native race/ethnicity population category, holds the highest rate of poverty with 38.4 percent of the 2000 residents living in poverty. People aged Under 5 years have the most percent of people living in poverty in Montana, accounting 22.6 percent of this age cohort living in poverty.

The states median household income has increased a small amount from the inflation-adjusted values in 2000. The income level has increased to $39,301, which amounts to a 1.7 percent growth. The State of Montana ranks 3 of 5 states when comparing the growth in median income level for the United States.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.