United States › Montana › Powder River County COUNTY
Powder River County Montana · 1,781 residents (2025 est.) · 3,298 sq mi
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The short version
Powder River County is home to 1,815 people in Montana. At a median age of 47.3, this is an older place than the country as a whole. There are 1 people per square mile. Owners hold 79% of the housing stock. 1% of locals were born outside the United States. Median rent is $533 a month.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 47.3
US median: 38.9
Less educated
26% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 77%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01
Population & growth from 1,858 in 2000
1,781 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
from 1 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
from 42.1 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Population, 1990 – 2024
2K 2K 2K 2K 2K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Powder River County Age distribution, 2024
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Section 02
Income & economy $67,045
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $28,398 in 2000
US average: $82,259
from $15,351 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
from 12.9% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
from 0.477 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 30.7%
Professional, scientific, technical 5.1%
Arts, entertainment, food 2.8%
Transportation & warehousing 1.8%
Public administration 1.2%
Education & health services 0.7%
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$192,100
+77%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $59,700 in 2000
US average: $376,019
$533
−15%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $346 in 2000
US average: $1,442
from 73.8% in 2000
21.2% rent
from 27.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
from 2.31 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
from 18.1% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
from 7.1% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
from 2.4 in 2009
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 97%(1,803)
Hispanic / Latino 0.6%(11)
2024
White, non-Hispanic 89.2%(1,619)
Hispanic / Latino 1.4%(26)
from 10 in 2009
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 10 more ancestry groups with data from 16.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
from 83.4% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
from 3.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
from 52.0% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
from 9.6% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
from 0.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
from 13.7% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
from 1.7% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07
Work & employment from 3.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
from 65.9% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
from 65.6% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
from 22.7% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
from 45.8% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08
People & community from 0.2% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
from 8.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
from 15.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
from 17.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 68.6% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
from 91.0% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
from 93.3% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
from 97.8% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
from 0.1% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 17.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
from 39.6% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
from 30.6% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
from 25.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
from 16.0% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
from 68.7% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
from 39.3% in 2020
US average: 36.7%
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, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later) 44.2%(34)
Share of the 77 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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Drill deeper
Places similar to Powder River County Head to head
Compare Powder River County to nearby counties POWDER RIVER COUNTY VS
Carter County
Income $54,167 −19%
Home value $199,200 +4%
Population 1,383 −22%
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POWDER RIVER COUNTY VS
Custer County
Income $70,605 +5%
Home value $219,100 +14%
Population 12,034 +576%
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POWDER RIVER COUNTY VS
Crook County
Income $79,637 +19%
Home value $285,800 +49%
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POWDER RIVER COUNTY VS
Rosebud County
Income $49,914 −26%
Home value $182,400 −5%
Population 8,253 +363%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Powder River County, Montana? Powder River County, Montana has about 1,815 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Powder River County, Montana? The typical household in Powder River County, Montana earns about $67,045 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Powder River County, Montana expensive? In Powder River County, Montana, the median home is worth about $192,100, and the typical rent is about $533 a month.
How educated are people in Powder River County, Montana? About 26.1% of adults age 25 and over in Powder River County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Powder River County, Montana? About 8.1% of people in Powder River County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.
Has Powder River County, Montana grown since 1990? Yes, Powder River County, Montana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 275 residents, a change of about -13 percent over that period.
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