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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Petroleum County

Montana · 496 residents · 1,655.625 sq mi
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The short version

Petroleum County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $40,000. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $155,700. With a median age of 53.4, the population is older than the US median of 38.8. Households here earn about 29% less than the Montana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 53.4
US median: 38.8
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 103%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
496
+1%since 2000
from 493 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
53.4
+30%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
3844344855355851990201020202024Petroleum County
2024447
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2020
Under 54%(20)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 95.2%(26)
US avg: 6.1%
10 to 146.5%(32)
US avg: 6.5%
15 to 192%(10)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 244.2%(21)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3411.9%(59)
US avg: 13.5%
35 to 447.9%(39)
US avg: 12.7%
45 to 549.9%(49)
US avg: 12.3%
55 to 6417.3%(86)
US avg: 13.1%
65 to 7413.7%(68)
US avg: 10%
75 to 8410.3%(51)
US avg: 4.9%
85 and over7.1%(35)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$40,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,107 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$28,220
+77%since 2000
from $15,986 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
31.1%
+19.8 ptssince 2009
from 11.4% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
12.1%
−11.1 ptssince 2000
from 23.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Agriculture, forestry, fishing56.6%
US avg: 1.7%
Construction56.2%
US avg: 1.2%
Information15.3%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade5.6%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance5.6%
US avg: 5.5%
Professional, scientific, technical5.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food0.8%
US avg: 2%
Other services0.8%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration0.8%
US avg: 4.7%
Manufacturing0.4%
US avg: 0.5%
Retail trade0%
US avg: 10%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0%
US avg: 0.8%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$155,700
+103%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$478
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $330 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
78.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
21.9% rent
Afford Score
3.9
+59%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic94%(466)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino1%(5)
Asian0%(0)
Other0%(0)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Asian origin
Filipino2.4%(11)
Chinese0.9%(4)
Ancestry
German29.1%(135)
American23.3%(108)
Norwegian13.8%(64)
Irish10.3%(48)
English9.1%(42)
Polish6%(28)
French4.1%(19)
Swedish2.6%(12)
Scottish2.2%(10)
Italian1.5%(7)
Danish1.1%(5)
+ 4 more ancestry groups with data
Romanian0.9%(4)
Finnish0.6%(3)
Dutch0.4%(2)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest American population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.5%
+9.1 ptssince 2000
from 17.4% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
98.6%
+15.7 ptssince 2000
from 82.9% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
4.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 0.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
13.3 min
+26%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
48.0%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
0.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
65.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
43.4%
−21.4 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
51.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
Female
48.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
Foreign born
2.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.6%
−69.9 ptssince 2013
from 75.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Marital status (2024)
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+47%
Home value$235,000+51%
Population5,582+919%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Fergus County
Income$63,706+59%
Home value$236,100+52%
Population11,825+2058%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Garfield County
Income$69,583+74%
Home value$169,900+9%
Population1,148+109%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PETROLEUM COUNTY VS
Golden Valley County
Income$58,333+46%
Home value$212,200+36%
Population844+54%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Petroleum County, Montana?

Petroleum County, Montana has about 496 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Petroleum County, Montana earns about $40,000 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 $155,700, and the typical rent is about $478 a month.

How educated are people in Petroleum County, Montana?

About 26.5% 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 12.1% 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 23 residents, a change of about -4 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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