Chouteau County, Montana Income Statistics
Chouteau 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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D
Chouteau County Well below averageLess wealthy than 80% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Chouteau County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $58,858 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,979 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.5% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.0% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.5% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Chouteau County is about 19% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing faster in Chouteau County (5.5%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Chouteau 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 Chouteau County, Montana grew by 51.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $58,858 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.5% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Chouteau County
| Metric | Chouteau County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.564 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,735 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $42,025 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.4% | 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 Chouteau County, it is 0.564, higher than Montana's 0.523, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and higher than the US's 0.552, so income is less evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 40% more than women's income in Chouteau County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $584,850 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chouteau County, Montana has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2018, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,822 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Chouteau County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 12.5% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 78 people are unemployed in Chouteau County, Montana.
The average commute time in Chouteau County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Chouteau County, Montana has fallen from 4.3% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.2% in 2021 and fell as low as 2.7% in 2019.
Chouteau County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Chouteau County, MT is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 5,905 residents against a local median of 11,687. Where Chouteau County, MT breaks from the counties next to it is income growth, sitting 50% above the local median of 3.7%/yr at 5.5%/yr. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 2.1%/yr on income growth, so Chouteau County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Chouteau County, MT has the highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chouteau County, MT | 5,905 | $58,858 #4/6 | 5.5%/yr #1/6 | 3.2% #4/6 | 0.564 #6/6 |
| Hill County, MT | 16,155 | $54,773 | 3.2%/yr | 4.2% | 0.563 |
| Judith Basin County, MT | 2,070 | $59,436 | 3.7%/yr | 1.0% | 0.527 |
| Liberty County, MT | 1,951 | $57,735 | 2.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.557 |
| Cascade County, MT | 84,603 | $67,044 | 5.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.513 |
| Fergus County, MT | 11,687 | $63,883 | 5.0%/yr | 4.2% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Chouteau County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Montana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Chouteau County, Montana.
How Rich Is Chouteau County, Montana?
Chouteau County has a wealth index grade of D. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a D grade means residents are somewhat worse off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $58,858, about 19% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
How fast is household income rising in Chouteau County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Chouteau County, Montana rose 52%, from $38,779 to $58,858. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +52% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Chouteau County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Chouteau County, Montana was $57,398, up 9% from $52,715 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Chouteau County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Chouteau County, Montana was $45,830. By 2024 it had risen 28% to $58,858.
What is the Gini coefficient in Chouteau County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Chouteau County is 0.564. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is higher than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed less equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Chouteau County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Chouteau County, Montana has narrowed from about 33% to 28% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2018, and was narrowest at 18% in 2023. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,822 since 2009.
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