United States › Montana › Lincoln County COUNTY
Lincoln County Montana · 22,328 residents (2025 est.) · 3,613 sq mi
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The short version
Lincoln County is a county of 21,175 people in Montana. At a median age of 52.8, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. There are 6 people per square mile. Households here earn about 35% less than in Montana as a whole. 78% of homes are owner-occupied.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 52.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 106%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 18,837 in 2000
22,328 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 5 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
17K 18K 19K 20K 22K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Lincoln County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $47,143
−3%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,754 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $13,923 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 19.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.427 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 8.5%
Professional, scientific, technical 4.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.4%
Public administration 2.2%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Education & health services 0.8%
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$296,500
+106%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $79,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$762
+12%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $374 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.6% in 2000
22.4% rent
from 14.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
2.30 people
Unchangedsince 2009
from 2.30 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 26.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 38.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 4.2 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.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 95.1%(17,917)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(271)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 90%(19,047)
Hispanic / Latino 3.1%(654)
from 14 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 19 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 17 more ancestry groups with data from 13.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 80.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.3% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 13.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 77.5% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 7.8% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 6.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.5% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 11.5% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 52.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 62.0% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 11.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 27.9% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.6% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 17.6% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 18.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 24.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 69.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 86.2% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 89.9% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 95.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.8% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married 24.3%(2,220)
Women 15+
Never married 17.2%(1,541)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 24.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 35.2% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 18.2% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 34.5% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 25.3% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 7.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 53.0% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 58.1% 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) 23.4%(505)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.4%(331)
Share of the 2,154 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 Lincoln County Head to head
Compare Lincoln County to nearby counties LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Boundary County
Income $67,237 +43%
Home value $410,500 +38%
Population 13,997 −37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Bonner County
Income $66,979 +42%
Home value $487,900 +65%
Population 54,420 +144%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Sanders County
Income $57,476 +22%
Home value $359,000 +21%
Population 14,062 −37%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
LINCOLN COUNTY VS
Flathead County
Income $73,925 +57%
Home value $535,500 +81%
Population 115,429 +417%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Lincoln County, Montana? Lincoln County, Montana has about 21,175 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Lincoln County, Montana? The typical household in Lincoln County, Montana earns about $47,143 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Lincoln County, Montana expensive? In Lincoln County, Montana, the median home is worth about $296,500, and the typical rent is about $762 a month.
How educated are people in Lincoln County, Montana? About 18.9% of adults age 25 and over in Lincoln County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Lincoln County, Montana? About 15.4% of people in Lincoln County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.
Has Lincoln County, Montana grown since 1990? Yes, Lincoln County, Montana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,694 residents, a change of about 21 percent over that period.
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