Dawson County, MT Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,644 | 1,116,316 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 3.6 | 7.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | -0.86% | 1.09% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 43.6 | 40.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 3,710 | 452,676 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Dawson County grew by 3.8% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 8,874 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Dawson County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $69,302 | $69,624 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 3.59% | 5.32% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Dawson County is about the same as in Montana.
Housing
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $125,833 | $242,768 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $823 | $1,031 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 72.4% | 69.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Dawson County is about 12.7 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $823 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Dawson County spend about 23 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 95 hours, about 4.0 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 11.4 | 16.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 22.9 | 32.0 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 95 | 134 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $2,957 | $4,139 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 6.8% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,212 | 2,162 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 149 | 403 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Montana:
Fallon County (7.4 min), Garfield County (7.8 min), Treasure County (7.8 min).
Slowest:
Broadwater County (30.4 min), Granite County (23.4 min), Stillwater County (22.8 min).
The average commute time in Dawson County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Dawson County has a education index of D, which means it is barely educated.
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.5% | 31.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.28 | 2.38 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Montana:
Gallatin County (0.4), Missoula County (0.3), Lewis and Clark County (0.3).
Lowest:
Liberty County (0.2), Toole County (0.2), Wheatland County (0.2).
Health
Dawson County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Dawson County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 80.4 | 79.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.9% | 14.7% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.3% | 18.8% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Montana:
Gallatin County (0.8), Missoula County (0.8), Granite County (0.8).
Lowest:
Glacier County (0.7), Big Horn County (0.8), Roosevelt County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Dawson County, Montana.
What is the population of Dawson County, Montana?
The population of Dawson County, Montana is 8,644, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Dawson County, Montana?
The population density of Dawson County, Montana is 3.6 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Dawson County, Montana?
The median household income in Dawson County, Montana is $69,302, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Dawson County, Montana?
The median home price in Dawson County, Montana is $125,833, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Dawson County, Montana?
The unemployment rate in Dawson County, Montana is 3.5%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.