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COUNTY · 2020 ACS

Petroleum County

Montana · 496 residents · 1,656 sq mi
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The short version

Petroleum County is a county of 496 people in Montana. At a median age of 53.4, this is an older place than the country as a whole. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. Getting to work takes 13 minutes on average. Renters pay $478 a month at the median. The foreign-born share is 2%.

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

496
+1%since 2000
from 493 in 2000
1990 – 2025
53.4
+30%since 2000
from 41.1 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Land area
1,656 sq mi
Population, 19902024
38443448553558519902000201020202024Petroleum 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

$40,000
+10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $24,107 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
$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%
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

$155,700
+103%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $51,000 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
$478
−4%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $330 in 2000
US average: $1,124
78.1%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 74.4% in 2000
21.9% rent
2.19 people
−6%since 2009
from 2.33 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
3.9
+59%since 2009
from 2.4 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
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)
Section 05

Education

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%
4.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 0.9% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

13.3 min
+26%since 2000
from 10.6 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
48.0%
−10.7 ptssince 2009
from 58.7% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
0.0%
−2.3 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

3.5%
+0.8 ptssince 2011
from 2.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
65.6%
+6.2 ptssince 2011
from 59.5% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
78.6%
US average: 73.3%
43.4%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 45.3% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

51.9%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 53.9% in 2009
48.1%
+2.0 ptssince 2009
from 46.1% in 2009
2.4%
+2.4 ptssince 2009
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
5.6%
−18.9 ptssince 2013
from 24.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
84.0%
US average: 91.9%
80.0%
US average: 86.2%
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
Section 09

Health coverage

5.6%
−18.9 ptssince 2013
from 24.5% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
27.6%
US average: 55.4%
Direct-purchase
45.3%
US average: 13.7%
19.2%
US average: 17.6%
19.0%
US average: 20.0%
VA health care
3.0%
US average: 2.3%
Any private
74.6%
US average: 68.1%
Any public
39.7%
US average: 35.2%

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, 2020
Gulf War (2001 or later)0%(0)
US avg: 20.6%
Gulf War (1990s)51.4%(18)
US avg: 21.4%
Vietnam era11.4%(4)
US avg: 35.2%
Korean War8.6%(3)
US avg: 7.6%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 2.9%

Share of the 35 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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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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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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