United States › Montana › Sanders County COUNTY · 2020 ACS
Sanders County Montana · 12,400 residents · 2,760 sq mi
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The short version
Sanders County is a county of 12,400 people in Montana. The median age is 55.2, about 16 years above the US median. 78% of homes are owner-occupied. Four-year degrees are less common here than nationally, at 19% of adults. The foreign-born share is 2%. That trails the Montana median by roughly 25%.
At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 55.2
US median: 38.8
Less educated
19% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 86%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01
Population & growth from 44.2 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
8K 10K 11K 12K 14K 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 Sanders County Age distribution, 2020
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Section 02
Income & economy $42,284
+5%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $26,852 in 2000
US average: $66,278
from $14,593 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
from 13.0% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
from 17.2% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Professional, scientific, technical 8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing 7.8%
Transportation & warehousing 5.1%
Public administration 2.4%
Arts, entertainment, food 1.2%
Education & health services 0.4%
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$251,600
+86%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $89,800 in 2000
US average: $265,253
$634
+8%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $390 in 2000
US average: $1,124
from 76.4% in 2000
21.6% rent
2.19 people
−12%since 2009
from 2.49 people in 2009
US average: 2.61
from 5.2 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.
Section 04
Race & ethnicity 2000
White, non-Hispanic 90.9%(9,299)
Hispanic / Latino 1.6%(159)
2020
White, non-Hispanic 86.5%(10,732)
Hispanic / Latino 2.8%(346)
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins
Detailed origins & ancestry Ancestry
+ 22 more ancestry groups with data from 15.5% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
from 81.2% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
from 4.5% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06
Commute & transportation from 17.5 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
from 70.8% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
from 3.8% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07
Work & employment from 10.5% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
from 53.0% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
US average: 73.3%
from 26.7% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08
People & community from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
from 24.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Computer in household
US average: 91.9%
Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married 23.8%(1,398)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09
Health coverage from 24.2% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
Direct-purchase
US average: 13.7%
VA health care
US average: 2.3%
Any private
US average: 68.1%
Any public
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) 3%(44)
Gulf War (1990s) 16.7%(247)
Share of the 1,480 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 Sanders County Head to head
Compare Sanders County to nearby counties SANDERS COUNTY VS
Shoshone County
Income $55,527 +31%
Home value $267,400 +6%
Population 14,130 same
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANDERS COUNTY VS
Mineral County
Income $63,450 +50%
Home value $364,300 +45%
Population 5,185 −63%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANDERS COUNTY VS
Lake County
Income $63,360 +50%
Home value $421,800 +68%
Population 33,392 +137%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
SANDERS COUNTY VS
Lincoln County
Income $47,143 +11%
Home value $296,500 +18%
Population 22,328 +59%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked
How many people live in Sanders County, Montana? Sanders County, Montana has about 12,400 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.
What is the median household income in Sanders County, Montana? The typical household in Sanders County, Montana earns about $42,284 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.
Is Sanders County, Montana expensive? In Sanders County, Montana, the median home is worth about $251,600, and the typical rent is about $634 a month.
How educated are people in Sanders County, Montana? About 19.0% of adults age 25 and over in Sanders County, Montana hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the poverty rate in Sanders County, Montana? About 16.6% of people in Sanders County, Montana live below the federal poverty line.
Has Sanders County, Montana grown since 1990? Yes, Sanders County, Montana has grown since 1990. The population has added about 3,731 residents, a change of about 43 percent over that period.
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