Flathead County, Montana Income Statistics
Flathead 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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B
Flathead County Around averageWealthier than 75% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Flathead County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $73,879 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $52,364 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.4% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 10.6% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.6% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Flathead County is about 2% higher than in Montana. Income has been growing faster in Flathead County (5.4%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Flathead County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the Montana average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Flathead County, Montana grew by 63.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $73,879 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.4% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Flathead County
| Metric | Flathead County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.514 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,832 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,541 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.4% | 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 Flathead County, it is 0.514, lower than Montana's 0.523, so income is more 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 14% more than women's income in Flathead County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $255,185 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Flathead County, Montana has narrowed from about 27% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,399 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Flathead County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.9% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.8% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 1,638 people are unemployed in Flathead County, Montana.
The average commute time in Flathead County is 17 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Flathead County, Montana has fallen from 7.1% to 2.9% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2012.
Flathead County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Flathead County, MT is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 110,697 residents against a local median of 21,175. The measure that sets Flathead County, MT apart most is unemployment: 2.9%, 49% below the local median of 5.7%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $73,879 against a local median of $59,078, 25% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Flathead County, MT is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 6.3% on unemployment, so Flathead County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Flathead County, MT has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead County, MT | 110,697 | $73,879 #2/6 | 5.4%/yr #5/6 | 2.9% #1/6 | 0.514 #2/6 |
| Lake County, MT | 32,553 | $63,733 | 6.1%/yr | 5.7% | 0.558 |
| Glacier County, MT | 13,635 | $47,127 | 6.2%/yr | 10.0% | 0.601 |
| Sanders County, MT | 13,282 | $59,078 | 7.1%/yr | 6.0% | 0.552 |
| Missoula County, MT | 120,671 | $75,565 | 6.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.495 |
| Lincoln County, MT | 21,175 | $47,976 | 3.9%/yr | 5.1% | 0.540 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Flathead County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Montana, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Flathead County, Montana.
How Rich Is Flathead County, Montana?
Flathead County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $73,879, about 2% higher than the Montana average of $72,476.
How has median household income changed in Flathead County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Flathead County, Montana rose 63%, from $45,223 to $73,879. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +63% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Flathead County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Flathead County, Montana was $70,951, up 6% from $66,797 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Flathead County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Flathead County, Montana was $58,113. By 2024 it had risen 27% to $73,879.
What is the Gini coefficient in Flathead County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Flathead County is 0.514. 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 Flathead County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Flathead County, Montana has narrowed from about 27% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2013. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $3,399 since 2009.
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