United States › Montana › Musselshell County COUNTY
Musselshell County Montana · 5,582 residents (2025 est.) · 1,869 sq mi
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The short version
With 5,152 people, Musselshell County is a county in Montana. At a median age of 51.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 85% of homes are owner-occupied. Density works out to 3 people per square mile. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree, below the 36% national rate. The foreign-born share is 2%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 51.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
22% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 101%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 4,497 in 2000
5,582 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 43.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
4K 4K 5K 5K 5K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Musselshell County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $58,920
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,527 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,389 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 19.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 12.6%
Professional, scientific, technical 6.9%
Education & health services 1.7%
Transportation & warehousing 1.1%
Public administration 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food 0.6%
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$235,000
+101%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$1,138
+78%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 76.9% in 2000
14.9% rent
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.46 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 3.2 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 95.9%(4,314)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(72)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 86.6%(4,464)
Hispanic / Latino 4.3%(221)
from 7 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
from 2 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
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 22.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 75.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 56.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.3% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 21.1% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 15.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 73.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 81.6% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 87.5% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 15.3% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 37.9% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 17.8% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 30.4% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 23.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 7.8% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 57.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 52.4% 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) 12.5%(60)
Gulf War (1990s) 15.2%(73)
Share of the 479 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 Musselshell County Head to head
Compare Musselshell County to nearby counties Frequently asked
How many people live in Musselshell County, Montana? Musselshell County, Montana has about 5,152 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Musselshell County, Montana? The typical household in Musselshell County, Montana earns about $58,920 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Musselshell County, Montana expensive? In Musselshell County, Montana, the median home is worth about $235,000, and the typical rent is about $1,138 a month.
How educated are people in Musselshell County, Montana? About 22.4% of adults age 25 and over in Musselshell County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Musselshell County, Montana? About 17.0% of people in Musselshell County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.
Has Musselshell County, Montana grown since 1990? Yes, Musselshell County, Montana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 1,046 residents, a change of about 25 percent over that period.
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