Garfield County, Montana Income Statistics
Garfield 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.
-
C
Garfield County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Garfield County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $70,344 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,032 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 7.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.1% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.1% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Garfield County is about 3% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing faster in Garfield County (7.1%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Garfield 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 Garfield County, Montana grew by 125.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $70,344 in 2024. That's an average of about 7.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Garfield County
| Metric | Garfield County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.568 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,721 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $54,998 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -0.5% | 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 Garfield County, it is 0.568, 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.
Women's income is about 1% more than men's income in Garfield County, Montana.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Garfield County, Montana has narrowed from about 53% to -1% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $18,825 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Garfield County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 43.7% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 8 | 16 | 22 |
The average commute time in Garfield County is 8 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Garfield County, Montana has fallen from 2.3% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.0% in 2012.
Garfield County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Garfield County, MT is the 4th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,094 residents against a local median of 1,669. Where Garfield County, MT breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 53% below the local median of 2.1% at 1.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 7.1%/yr against a local median of 5.4%/yr, 31% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Garfield County, MT is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 9.6% on unemployment, so Garfield County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Garfield 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield County, MT | 1,094 | $70,344 #2/6 | 7.1%/yr #2/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.568 #5/6 |
| Rosebud County, MT | 8,165 | $49,973 | -1.1%/yr | 10.6% | 0.601 |
| Treasure County, MT | 732 | $67,777 | 6.2%/yr | 1.0% | 0.472 |
| Valley County, MT | 7,519 | $72,210 | 4.9%/yr | 3.0% | 0.505 |
| McCone County, MT | 1,669 | $65,753 | 5.4%/yr | 2.1% | 0.498 |
| Petroleum County, MT | 447 | $60,208 | 7.5%/yr | 1.0% | 0.456 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Garfield 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 Garfield County, Montana.
How Rich Is Garfield County, Montana?
Garfield 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 $70,344, about 3% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
How has median household income changed in Garfield County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Garfield County, Montana rose 125%, from $31,259 to $70,344. Over the same years, income here outpaced Montana as a whole: +125% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Garfield County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Garfield County, Montana was $61,500, down 1% from $61,829 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Garfield County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Garfield County, Montana was $44,062. By 2024 it had risen 60% to $70,344.
Is unemployment high in Garfield County, Montana?
Unemployment in Garfield County, Montana is only 1.0%, well below the Montana rate of 3.6%, a sign of a tight labor market where employers compete for workers.
What is the Gini coefficient in Garfield County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Garfield County is 0.568. 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 Garfield County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Garfield County, Montana has narrowed from about 53% to -1% in 2024. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $18,825 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →