COUNTY · 1990 CENSUS

Jefferson County

Montana · 7,939 residents · 1,657 sq mi

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The short version

Jefferson County is a county of 7,939 people in Montana. 81% of homes are owner-occupied. Households here earn about 37% more than in Montana as a whole. The population has fallen 21% since 2000. The typical home is worth $64,000. Renters pay $299 a month at the median.

At a glance

Average income

near the US median

US median: $30,130

Older

median age 35.1

US median: 33.0

Average education

21% hold a bachelor's degree

US average: 20%

More affordable

home values down 34%, inflation adjusted

US median home: $93,722

Section 01

Population & growth

Total population

7,939

−21%vs 2000

vs 10,049 in 2000

1990 – 2025

Median age

35.1

−13%vs 2000

vs 40.2 in 2000

US average: 33.0

Land area

1,657 sq mi

Population, 1990 – 2024

202413K

Age distribution, 1990

Under 57.1%(567)

US avg: 7.3%

5 to 98.6%(686)

US avg: 7.3%

10 to 148.8%(698)

US avg: 6.9%

15 to 197%(557)

US avg: 7.1%

20 to 243.7%(292)

US avg: 7.5%

25 to 3414.5%(1,153)

US avg: 17.5%

35 to 4420.4%(1,618)

US avg: 15.1%

45 to 5411.8%(938)

US avg: 10.2%

55 to 647.5%(597)

US avg: 8.5%

65 to 746.2%(493)

US avg: 7.3%

75 to 843.3%(261)

US avg: 4%

85 and over1%(79)

US avg: 1.2%

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income

$31,400

Unchangedinflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $41,506 in 2000

US average: $30,130

1990 – 2024

Per capita income

$13,233

−27%vs 2000

vs $18,250 in 2000

US average: $14,340

Poverty rate

7.4%

−1.6 ptsvs 2000

vs 9.0% in 2000

US average: 13.2%

Section 03

Housing

Median home value

$64,000

−34%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $127,700 in 2000

US average: $93,722

1990 – 2024

Median gross rent

$299

−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000

vs $419 in 2000

US average: $450

Owner-occupied

80.7%

−2.5 ptsvs 2000

vs 83.2% in 2000

19.3% rent

Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000

White, non-Hispanic95.2%(9,564)

Black0.1%(13)

Hispanic / Latino1.5%(149)

Asian0.4%(42)

Other0%

1990

White, non-Hispanic97.5%(7,744)

Black0%(2)

Hispanic / Latino1%(82)

Asian0.2%(14)

Other2.3%(179)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin

Mexican1.6%(202)

South American0.4%(47)

Venezuelan0.4%(47)

Spaniard0.1%(17)

Puerto Rican0.1%(16)

Cuban0.1%(14)

Asian origin

Korean0.3%(41)

Japanese0.1%(9)

Pacific Islander origin

Native Hawaiian0%(5)

Ancestry

German24.6%(3,145)

English19.7%(2,514)

Irish19%(2,428)

Norwegian9%(1,153)

Swedish4.4%(557)

Scottish3.6%(457)

Polish2.8%(353)

American2.7%(347)

French2.7%(340)

Italian2.6%(327)

Scotch-Irish2.5%(325)

Dutch2.4%(305)

+ 23 more ancestry groups with data

Danish1.6%(207)

French Canadian1.6%(204)

Czech1.3%(165)

Finnish1.1%(146)

Russian1.1%(140)

Welsh0.7%(94)

British0.5%(67)

Slovene0.5%(62)

Greek0.5%(61)

Austrian0.4%(54)

Swiss0.3%(36)

Romanian0.3%(35)

Croatian0.2%(20)

Canadian0.1%(18)

Ukrainian0.1%(16)

Hungarian0.1%(15)

West Indian0.1%(13)

Jamaican0.1%(13)

Serbian0.1%(11)

Armenian0.1%(9)

Belgian0.1%(9)

Lithuanian0.1%(8)

Bulgarian0%(6)

RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Swedish population

Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

20.8%

−6.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 27.7% in 2000

US average: 20.3%

High school or higher

81.3%

−8.9 ptsvs 2000

vs 90.2% in 2000

US average: 75.2%

Graduate degree

5.2%

−3.8 ptsvs 2000

vs 8.9% in 2000

US average: 7.1%

Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute

20.2 min

+36%vs 2000

vs 14.9 min in 2000

US average: 21.9

Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)

Men 15+

Never married24.6%(1,334)

Married62.8%(3,400)

Widowed3.5%(187)

Divorced9.1%(494)

Women 15+

Never married18.1%(966)

Married66.6%(3,552)

Widowed8.8%(470)

Divorced6.5%(346)

SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024

Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured

5.8%

−5.6 ptssince 2013

from 11.4% in 2013

US average: 8.4%

Employer-based

52.0%

−3.6 ptssince 2020

from 55.6% in 2020

US average: 54.8%

Direct-purchase

20.1%

+0.8 ptssince 2020

from 19.3% in 2020

US average: 13.8%

Medicare

24.2%

+1.4 ptssince 2020

from 22.8% in 2020

US average: 18.4%

Medicaid

15.5%

−0.3 ptssince 2020

from 15.8% in 2020

US average: 20.9%

VA health care

5.8%

−0.1 ptssince 2020

from 5.9% in 2020

US average: 2.2%

Any private

72.9%

−1.7 ptssince 2020

from 74.6% in 2020

US average: 67.1%

Any public

39.4%

+0.1 ptssince 2020

from 39.3% in 2020

US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024

Gulf War (2001 or later)29.5%(315)

US avg: 26.4%

Gulf War (1990s)44.7%(477)

US avg: 24.3%

Vietnam era31.4%(335)

US avg: 33.1%

Korean War0%(0)

US avg: 4.5%

World War II0%(0)

US avg: 1%

Share of the 1,067 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE

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