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COUNTY

Prairie County

Montana · 1,112 residents (2025 est.) · 1,736.603 sq mi
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#3Most work-from-homeof 3,14436.4%#23Oldest by median ageof 3,14457.8#83Lowest unemploymentof 3,1440.9%
The short version

Prairie County has notably lower household income than the US average, with a median household income of $51,250. Population has held roughly steady since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $165,700. With a median age of 57.8, the population is older than the US median of 38.9. The poverty rate of 20.6% is well above the national figure. Households here earn about 29% less than the Montana median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 57.8
US median: 38.9
Less educated
27% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 131%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
1,250
+4%since 2000
from 1,199 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
1 / sq mi
+25%since 2009
from 1 / sq mi in 2009
US average: 281
Median age
57.8
+18%since 2000
from 48.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:1,112 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
9631K1K1K1K1990201020202024Prairie County
20241K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.3%(66)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 97.5%(94)
US avg: 6%
10 to 144.2%(52)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 191.9%(24)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 241.5%(19)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 349.5%(119)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 448.2%(102)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5410.2%(127)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 649.6%(120)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7427%(337)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 8411%(137)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over4.2%(53)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$51,250
+11%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $25,451 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,904
+149%since 2000
from $14,422 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
34.9%
+17.9 ptssince 2009
from 16.9% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
20.6%
+3.4 ptssince 2000
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.514
+22%since 2010
from 0.420 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Agriculture, forestry, fishing41.3%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction41.3%
US avg: 1.2%
Wholesale trade8.4%
US avg: 6.9%
Finance & insurance7.6%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical6.3%
US avg: 5.1%
Information4.6%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade2.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Other services1.7%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration1.7%
US avg: 4.8%
Education & health services1.3%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
Transportation & warehousing0%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food0%
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$165,700
+131%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $39,400 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$627
+22%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $283 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
83.9%
+6.4 ptssince 2000
from 77.5% in 2000
16.1% rent
Vacancy rate
20.7%
−8.7 ptssince 2009
from 29.3% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.8%
−0.8 ptssince 2009
from 23.5% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
17.0%
+3.4 ptssince 2009
from 13.6% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.2
+70%since 2009
from 1.9 in 2009
2009 – 2024
Our index: median home value divided by median household income. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
74
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
RELATED:See current rent listings in Prairie County on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic97.7%(1,171)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.7%(8)
Asian0.2%(2)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(1,101)
Black0%(0)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(7)
Asian2.7%(34)
Other8.6%(108)
Diversity Score
27
+683%since 2009
from 3 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
Japanese2.7%(34)
Ancestry
German41.7%(521)
Irish14.6%(183)
American10.5%(131)
English10.2%(128)
Dutch4.7%(59)
Scotch-Irish3.2%(40)
Swedish2.3%(29)
Norwegian2.2%(27)
Russian2%(25)
Italian1.7%(21)
Swiss1%(12)
Scottish0.9%(11)
+ 6 more ancestry groups with data
Croatian0.8%(10)
French0.8%(10)
Danish0.4%(5)
Polish0.2%(2)
Canadian0.1%(1)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest American population · Largest English population · Largest Dutch population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
26.9%
+12.1 ptssince 2000
from 14.8% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
96.5%
+17.7 ptssince 2000
from 78.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
11.8%
+9.2 ptssince 2000
from 2.5% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
17.0 min
+37%since 2000
from 12.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
49.6%
−15.1 ptssince 2009
from 64.7% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.8%
+3.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−1.8 ptssince 2009
from 2.0% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
36.4%
+22.9 ptssince 2009
from 13.5% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−8.6 ptssince 2009
from 11.6% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.0%
−3.5 ptssince 2009
from 3.5% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
9.5%
+7.8 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
0.9%
−0.9 ptssince 2011
from 1.8% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
52.3%
−0.2 ptssince 2011
from 52.5% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
11.5%
−12.1 ptssince 2009
from 23.6% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
48.7%
−25.4 ptssince 2009
from 74.1% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
53.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2009
from 48.8% in 2009
Female
46.2%
−5.0 ptssince 2009
from 51.2% in 2009
Foreign born
4.0%
+0.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.1% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
8.8%
−39.6 ptssince 2009
from 48.4% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
14.3%
−5.0 ptssince 2012
from 19.3% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
4.7%
−79.4 ptssince 2013
from 84.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
78.2%
+9.2 ptssince 2017
from 69.0% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
98.9%
+2.5 ptssince 2016
from 96.4% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
0.0%
−0.2 ptssince 2016
from 0.2% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married24.7%(140)
Married51.8%(293)
Widowed14%(79)
Divorced9.5%(54)
Women 15+
Never married4.4%(21)
Married71%(335)
Widowed10.8%(51)
Divorced13.8%(65)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Drill deeper

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Head to head

Compare Prairie County to nearby counties

PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
Custer County
Income$70,605+38%
Home value$219,100+32%
Population12,034+982%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
Dawson County
Income$71,334+39%
Home value$185,300+12%
Population8,692+682%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
McCone County
Income$69,375+35%
Home value$211,600+28%
Population1,720+55%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
PRAIRIE COUNTY VS
Wibaux County
Income$67,462+32%
Home value$98,600−40%
Population885−20%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Prairie County, Montana?

Prairie County, Montana has about 1,250 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

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

The typical household in Prairie County, Montana earns about $51,250 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Prairie County, Montana expensive?

In Prairie County, Montana, the median home is worth about $165,700, and the typical rent is about $627 a month.

How educated are people in Prairie County, Montana?

About 26.9% of adults age 25 and over in Prairie County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Prairie County, Montana?

About 20.6% of people in Prairie County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.

Has Prairie County, Montana grown since 1990?

Yes, Prairie County, Montana has shrunk since 1990. The population has lost about 133 residents, a change of about -10 percent over that period.

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1 census tract
Census Tract 1
2 ZIP codes
ZIP 59349ZIP 59326
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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

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