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COUNTY

Pondera County

Montana · 6,072 residents (2025 est.) · 1,624.567 sq mi
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The short version

Pondera County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $52,338. Population has declined 6% since 2000. 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national rate of 36%. Median home value has roughly tripled since 2000, reaching $206,100. The poverty rate of 21.9% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 28% less than the Montana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.0
US median: 38.9
Less educated
20% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 57%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
6,035
−6%since 2000
from 6,424 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
4 / sq mi
+2%since 2009
from 4 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
42.0
+9%since 2000
from 38.6 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:6,072 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
6K6K6K6K6K1990201020202024Pondera County
20246K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 56.6%(401)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.1%(430)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146%(365)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.3%(382)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 245%(300)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3410.5%(633)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.4%(751)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 549.7%(585)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6414.4%(869)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7412.4%(750)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 846.8%(410)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.6%(159)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$52,338
−6%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $30,464 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$29,283
+105%since 2000
from $14,276 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
37.6%
+23.3 ptssince 2009
from 14.4% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
21.9%
+3.1 ptssince 2000
from 18.8% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.438
−3%since 2010
from 0.450 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing20.2%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction19.5%
US avg: 1.2%
Information9.9%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade6.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing5.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Other services4.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Finance & insurance4%
US avg: 5.9%
Public administration3.5%
US avg: 4.8%
Retail trade3.1%
US avg: 9.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.5%
US avg: 5.1%
Education & health services1.5%
US avg: 0.9%
Arts, entertainment, food1%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.6%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$206,100
+57%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $72,200 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$784
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $367 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
67.7%
−2.8 ptssince 2000
from 70.5% in 2000
32.3% rent
Vacancy rate
17.6%
+4.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
24.7%
+4.4 ptssince 2009
from 20.3% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
25.5%
−2.9 ptssince 2009
from 28.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.9
+51%since 2009
from 2.6 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
41
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Pondera County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic83.2%(5,347)
Black0.1%(6)
Hispanic / Latino0.8%(54)
Asian0.1%(9)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic78.9%(4,760)
Black0%(1)
Hispanic / Latino2.6%(154)
Asian1%(60)
Other17.6%(1,060)
Diversity Score
43
+6%since 2009
from 41 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
42
−35%since 2020
from 64 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
Mexican2.1%(125)
Salvadoran0.1%(9)
Cuban0.1%(6)
Guatemalan0.1%(5)
Asian origin
Filipino0.6%(39)
Taiwanese0.2%(11)
Pacific Islander origin
Samoan0%(3)
Ancestry
German27.3%(1,646)
Irish8.9%(539)
English7.4%(448)
Norwegian7.2%(433)
Dutch6%(362)
American3.8%(228)
Swedish1.7%(103)
Swiss1.7%(100)
Belgian1.2%(72)
Italian1.2%(72)
French1.1%(64)
+ 16 more ancestry groups with data
Canadian0.8%(47)
Danish0.8%(47)
Polish0.7%(41)
Austrian0.6%(39)
Czech0.6%(34)
Scotch-Irish0.5%(28)
Welsh0.4%(26)
Scottish0.4%(24)
Russian0.3%(17)
Finnish0.1%(6)
Lithuanian0.1%(5)
Arab0.1%(4)
Lebanese0.1%(4)
Greek0.1%(4)
Slovene0%(3)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
20.1%
+0.3 ptssince 2000
from 19.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
87.1%
+5.6 ptssince 2000
from 81.6% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
4.6%
−1.1 ptssince 2000
from 5.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
19.2 min
+39%since 2000
from 13.8 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.6%
+3.0 ptssince 2009
from 66.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.3%
−4.4 ptssince 2009
from 11.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.1%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 0.1% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
9.6%
+3.8 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
11.0%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 12.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.4%
−2.0 ptssince 2009
from 2.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.0%
−4.9 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
5.8%
+1.2 ptssince 2011
from 4.6% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
58.9%
+0.5 ptssince 2011
from 58.4% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
17.6%
+0.4 ptssince 2009
from 17.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
36.7%
−29.9 ptssince 2009
from 66.5% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
50.6%
+1.0 ptssince 2009
from 49.6% in 2009
Female
49.4%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 50.4% in 2009
Foreign born
1.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.5% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.4%
−41.8 ptssince 2009
from 49.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
19.2%
+3.8 ptssince 2012
from 15.4% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
8.2%
−73.0 ptssince 2013
from 81.2% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
81.8%
+15.5 ptssince 2017
from 66.3% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
89.2%
−5.6 ptssince 2016
from 94.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.6%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married32.5%(794)
Married53.5%(1,307)
Widowed2.8%(68)
Divorced11.2%(274)
Women 15+
Never married26.9%(644)
Married49.5%(1,186)
Widowed12.3%(294)
Divorced11.4%(272)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
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Head to head

Compare Pondera County to nearby counties

PONDERA COUNTY VS
Teton County
Income$70,430+35%
Home value$264,000+28%
Population6,496+7%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PONDERA COUNTY VS
Toole County
Income$57,731+10%
Home value$218,400+6%
Population5,211−14%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PONDERA COUNTY VS
Glacier County
Income$46,875−10%
Home value$165,100−20%
Population13,463+122%
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PONDERA COUNTY VS
Liberty County
Income$57,857+11%
Home value$169,100−18%
Population1,957−68%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Pondera County, Montana?

Pondera County, Montana has about 6,035 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Pondera County, Montana earns about $52,338 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Pondera County, Montana expensive?

In Pondera County, Montana, the median home is worth about $206,100, and the typical rent is about $784 a month.

How educated are people in Pondera County, Montana?

About 20.1% of adults age 25 and over in Pondera County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Pondera County, Montana?

About 21.9% of people in Pondera County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Pondera County, Montana grown since 1990?

Yes, Pondera County, Montana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 398 residents, a change of about -6 percent over that period.

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Explore from here

2 census tracts
Census Tract 9770Census Tract 9772
5 ZIP codes
ZIP 59425ZIP 59486ZIP 59448ZIP 59416ZIP 59432
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →