Carter County, Montana Income Statistics
Carter County Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of a county's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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C
Carter County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Carter County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,567 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,119 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 2.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.9% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 2.8% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Carter County is about 21% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Carter County (2.7%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Carter County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, lower than the Montana average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Carter County, Montana grew by 58.6% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $57,567 in 2024. That's an average of about 2.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Carter County
| Metric | Carter County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.542 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,867 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $41,249 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 24.8% | 22.0% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Carter County, it is 0.542, higher than Montana's 0.523, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 33% more than women's income in Carter County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 33% wage gap accumulates to roughly $476,630 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Carter County, Montana has narrowed from about 48% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2012, and was narrowest at 6% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,378 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Carter County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.8% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 39.5% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 13 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 18 people are unemployed in Carter County, Montana.
The average commute time in Carter County is 13 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Carter County, Montana has risen from 1.0% to 2.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 3.6% in 2023.
Carter County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Carter County, MT is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,308 residents against a local median of 2,760. The measure that sets Carter County, MT apart most is unemployment: 2.8%, 184% above the local median of 1.0%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 2.7%/yr against a local median of 3.9%/yr, 29% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, and it is the wrong way: Carter County, MT reads weaker than its neighbours on all of them. The counties themselves spread 2.1% on unemployment, so Carter County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Carter County, MT has the 5th lowest unemployment of the 6 areas compared here.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County, MT | 1,308 | $57,567 #6/6 | 2.7%/yr #5/6 | 2.8% #5/6 | 0.542 #5/6 |
| Fallon County, MT | 2,760 | $75,839 | 5.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.549 |
| Crook County, WY | 7,442 | $77,872 | 3.4%/yr | 1.0% | 0.485 |
| Harding County, SD | 1,148 | $80,729 | 5.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.496 |
| Powder River County, MT | 1,815 | $65,480 | 3.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.509 |
| Bowman County, ND | 2,906 | $73,774 | 2.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.500 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Carter County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it about on par with Montana, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Carter County, Montana.
How Rich Is Carter County, Montana?
Carter County has a wealth index grade of C. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a C grade means residents are close to the U.S. average. The median household income is $57,567, about 21% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
How fast is household income rising in Carter County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Carter County, Montana rose 59%, from $36,303 to $57,567. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +59% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Carter County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Carter County, Montana was $54,459, up 16% from $46,774 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Carter County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Carter County, Montana was $43,382. By 2024 it had risen 33% to $57,567.
What is the Gini coefficient in Carter County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Carter County is 0.542. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Carter County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Carter County, Montana has narrowed from about 48% to 25% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 48% in 2012, and was narrowest at 6% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,378 since 2009.
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