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COUNTY

Musselshell County

Montana · 5,582 residents (2025 est.) · 1,868.958 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#61Fastest growingof 3,135+18.0%#74Most work-from-homeof 3,14422.8%#118Highest homeownership rateof 3,14485.1%
The short version

Musselshell County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $58,920. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $235,000. With a median age of 51.3, the population is older than the US median of 38.9.

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

Total population
5,152
+15%since 2000
from 4,497 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
3 / sq mi
+17%since 2009
from 2 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
51.3
+19%since 2000
from 43.2 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:5,582 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
4K4K5K5K5K1990201020202024Musselshell County
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 54.2%(217)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.8%(300)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.7%(296)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(326)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 243.6%(184)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 347.4%(379)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4410.6%(544)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5411.9%(613)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6415.5%(799)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7418.6%(956)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 848.5%(440)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over1.9%(98)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$58,920
+27%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,527 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$33,460
+117%since 2000
from $15,389 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
40.0%
+25.5 ptssince 2009
from 14.5% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
17.0%
−2.9 ptssince 2000
from 19.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.474
+10%since 2010
from 0.432 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information13.1%
US avg: 10.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing12.6%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction9.7%
US avg: 1.2%
Finance & insurance8.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.9%
US avg: 5.1%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Manufacturing2.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Retail trade2.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Education & health services1.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing1.1%
US avg: 2.2%
Public administration0.9%
US avg: 4.8%
Arts, entertainment, food0.6%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$235,000
+101%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $64,300 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,138
+78%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $350 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
85.1%
+8.2 ptssince 2000
from 76.9% in 2000
14.9% rent
Vacancy rate
19.3%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.7%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 25.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
54.2%
+10.8 ptssince 2009
from 43.4% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
4.0
+25%since 2009
from 3.2 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
79
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Musselshell County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic95.9%(4,314)
Black0.1%(3)
Hispanic / Latino1.6%(72)
Asian0.1%(6)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic86.6%(4,464)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino4.3%(221)
Asian0%(0)
Other9.1%(467)
Diversity Score
30
+355%since 2009
from 7 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
4
+101%since 2020
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

Hispanic origin
Mexican3%(156)
Puerto Rican0.7%(34)
Spaniard0.2%(10)
Cuban0.1%(5)
Ancestry
German19.4%(1,001)
English13.1%(675)
Irish11.4%(588)
American8.4%(431)
Norwegian4.1%(210)
Dutch3.2%(164)
Danish3%(154)
Scotch-Irish2.9%(151)
Scottish2.3%(118)
Italian1.7%(88)
Swedish1.5%(78)
Slovene0.8%(39)
+ 15 more ancestry groups with data
Polish0.7%(37)
French0.7%(34)
Czech0.5%(24)
Austrian0.4%(23)
Hungarian0.4%(22)
Ukrainian0.4%(19)
Canadian0.3%(14)
Russian0.3%(13)
Welsh0.3%(13)
Croatian0.2%(12)
Slovak0.2%(10)
Finnish0.2%(9)
Portuguese0.1%(4)
Belgian0%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
22.4%
+5.7 ptssince 2000
from 16.7% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
89.3%
+6.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
5.8%
+1.7 ptssince 2000
from 4.1% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
25.3 min
+12%since 2000
from 22.7 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
59.1%
−16.0 ptssince 2009
from 75.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
8.8%
−3.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.5% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
22.8%
+17.4 ptssince 2009
from 5.4% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
5.8%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 0.7% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
5.9%
+3.2 ptssince 2009
from 2.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
9.2%
+4.9 ptssince 2011
from 4.3% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
54.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2011
from 56.0% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.8%
+1.6 ptssince 2009
from 10.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
27.1%
−27.1 ptssince 2009
from 54.2% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.5%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 47.7% in 2009
Female
48.5%
−3.8 ptssince 2009
from 52.3% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
11.5%
−36.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
23.1%
+8.3 ptssince 2012
from 14.8% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
10.1%
−74.6 ptssince 2013
from 84.7% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
83.4%
+9.5 ptssince 2017
from 73.9% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
95.0%
+3.1 ptssince 2016
from 91.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.7%
+0.7 ptssince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married25.1%(553)
Married59.3%(1,305)
Widowed3.3%(73)
Divorced12.2%(269)
Women 15+
Never married14.6%(312)
Married56%(1,197)
Widowed13.5%(288)
Divorced16%(342)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Musselshell County to nearby counties

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MUSSELSHELL COUNTY VS
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MUSSELSHELL COUNTY VS
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MUSSELSHELL COUNTY VS
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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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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 1Census Tract 2
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 59072ZIP 59059
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →