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COUNTY

Petroleum County

Montana · 548 residents (2025 est.) · 1,655.625 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#3Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.0%#150Oldest by median ageof 3,14451.6
The short version

Petroleum County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $60,208. Population has declined 9% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $201,400. With a median age of 51.6, 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 51.6
US median: 38.9
Average education
31% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 117%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
447
−9%since 2000
from 493 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
0 / sq mi
−13%since 2009
from 0 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
51.6
+26%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:548 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
3844344855355851990201020202024Petroleum County
2024447
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 52.9%(13)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.4%(24)
US avg: 6%
10 to 145.8%(26)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 190.7%(3)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245.4%(24)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 343.6%(16)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4415.4%(69)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5415.7%(70)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6417%(76)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7416.8%(75)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 849.4%(42)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2%(9)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$60,208
+37%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,107 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$39,919
+150%since 2000
from $15,986 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
33.9%
+22.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.1%
−15.2 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.427
+7%since 2010
from 0.398 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing35.7%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction34.9%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade10.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Information10.2%
US avg: 10.8%
Finance & insurance9.8%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical9.4%
US avg: 5.1%
Retail trade2.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
Other services0%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration0%
US avg: 4.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$201,400
+117%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,000 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$800
+33%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $330 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
72.9%
−1.6 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
27.1% rent
Vacancy rate
28.9%
+10.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.8%
+0.8 ptssince 2009
from 24.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
0.0%
−3.2 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.3
+37%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
82
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Petroleum County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic98.2%(484)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1.2%(6)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic98.9%(442)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0%(0)
Asian0.7%(3)
Other0.4%(2)
Diversity Score
3
−81%since 2009
from 15 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Asian origin
Japanese0.7%(3)
Ancestry
German34.7%(155)
American19.7%(88)
English17.9%(80)
Irish11.2%(50)
Norwegian8.3%(37)
Polish2.2%(10)
French1.3%(6)
Romanian1.3%(6)
Danish0.2%(1)
Finnish0.2%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Irish population · Largest Norwegian population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.8%
+13.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
98.9%
+16.0 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
10.6%
+9.7 ptssince 2000
from 0.9% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.2 min
+53%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
49.8%
−8.9 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.6%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 8.3% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
15.3%
+8.2 ptssince 2009
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
24.3%
−0.9 ptssince 2009
from 25.2% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 0.8% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
0.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
61.7%
+2.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
23.4%
+2.5 ptssince 2009
from 20.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
39.1%
−25.6 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
55.3%
+1.4 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
Female
44.7%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
Foreign born
0.9%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
16.3%
−39.7 ptssince 2009
from 56.0% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
6.7%
−0.5 ptssince 2012
from 7.2% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.7%
−68.8 ptssince 2013
from 75.5% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
84.2%
+10.4 ptssince 2017
from 73.8% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
100.0%
+0.2 ptssince 2016
from 99.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
Unchangedsince 2016
from 0.0% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married9.4%(19)
Married65%(132)
Widowed4.9%(10)
Divorced20.7%(42)
Women 15+
Never married8.8%(16)
Married74%(134)
Widowed5%(9)
Divorced12.2%(22)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Petroleum County to nearby counties

PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Musselshell County
Income$58,920−2%
Home value$235,000+17%
Population5,582+919%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Fergus County
Income$63,706+6%
Home value$236,100+17%
Population11,825+2058%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Garfield County
Income$69,583+16%
Home value$169,900−16%
Population1,148+109%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Golden Valley County
Income$58,333−3%
Home value$212,200+5%
Population844+54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Petroleum County, Montana?

Petroleum County, Montana has about 447 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Petroleum County, Montana?

The typical household in Petroleum County, Montana earns about $60,208 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Petroleum County, Montana expensive?

In Petroleum County, Montana, the median home is worth about $201,400, and the typical rent is about $800 a month.

How educated are people in Petroleum County, Montana?

About 30.8% of adults age 25 and over in Petroleum County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Petroleum County, Montana?

About 8.1% of people in Petroleum County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Petroleum County, Montana grown since 1990?

Yes, Petroleum County, Montana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 72 residents, a change of about -14 percent over that period.

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1 census tract
Census Tract 1
1 ZIP code
ZIP 59087
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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