United States › Montana › Lake County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Lake County Montana · 31,134 residents · 1,490 sq mi
Time machine
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The short version
With 31,134 people, Lake County is a county in Montana. At a median age of 44.7, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 2% of people here were born outside the United States. Owners hold 71% of the housing stock. Renters pay $744 a month at the median. The average commute runs 20 minutes.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 44.7
US median: 38.8
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 53%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 38.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
20K 23K 27K 30K 34K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lake County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $52,169
+21%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,740 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $15,173 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 18.5% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 18.7% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 4.3%
Public administration 2.4%
Professional, scientific, technical 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.2%
Education & health services 0.6%
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$278,400
+53%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $120,900 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$744
+23%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $403 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 71.4% in 2000
28.6% rent
from 2.60 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 4.8 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 70.6%(18,704)
Hispanic / Latino 2.5%(668)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 65.4%(20,373)
Hispanic / Latino 3.8%(1,168)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 29 more ancestry groups with data from 22.2% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 6.6% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.2 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 4.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 59.2% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 32.5% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 2.1% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 26.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 32.2%(4,242)
Women 15+
Never married 26.1%(3,564)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 26.3% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
US average: 35.2%
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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later) 17.7%(435)
Gulf War (1990s) 16.4%(403)
Share of the 2,453 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.
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Drill deeper
Places similar to Lake County Head to head
Compare Lake County to nearby counties LAKE COUNTY VS
Missoula County
Income $75,598 +45%
Home value $472,100 +70%
Population 123,513 +270%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Flathead County
Income $73,925 +42%
Home value $535,500 +92%
Population 115,429 +246%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Sanders County
Income $57,476 +10%
Home value $359,000 +29%
Population 14,062 −58%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LAKE COUNTY VS
Mineral County
Income $63,450 +22%
Home value $364,300 +31%
Population 5,185 −84%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Lake County, Montana? Lake County, Montana has about 31,134 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lake County, Montana? The typical household in Lake County, Montana earns about $52,169 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lake County, Montana expensive? In Lake County, Montana, the median home is worth about $278,400, and the typical rent is about $744 a month.
How educated are people in Lake County, Montana? About 31.4% of adults age 25 and over in Lake County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lake County, Montana? About 18.4% of people in Lake County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lake County, Montana grown since 1990? Yes, Lake County, Montana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 10,093 residents, a change of about 48 percent over that period.
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