Golden Valley County, Montana Income Statistics
Golden Valley 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
Golden Valley County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Golden Valley County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,482 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $38,737 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.0% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.6% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.6% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Golden Valley County is about 25% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Golden Valley County (3.0%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County, Montana grew by 49.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,482 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.0% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Golden Valley County
| Metric | Golden Valley County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.565 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $45,000 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $32,036 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 28.8% | 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 Golden Valley County, it is 0.565, 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 Golden Valley County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 40% wage gap accumulates to roughly $453,740 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Golden Valley County, Montana has narrowed from about 31% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2023, and was narrowest at 19% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,996 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Golden Valley County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.5% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.1% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 15 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 6 people are unemployed in Golden Valley County, Montana.
The average commute time in Golden Valley County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Golden Valley County, Montana has fallen from 5.5% to 1.5% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.2% in 2012 and fell as low as 1.3% in 2022.
Golden Valley County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Golden Valley County, MT is the smallest of the 6 counties compared here, 897 residents against a local median of 5,152. Golden Valley County, MT's unemployment, at 1.5%, runs 50% below the 3.1% typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.0%/yr against a local median of 5.0%/yr, 39% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Golden Valley County, MT is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 8.2% on unemployment, so Golden Valley County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Golden Valley County, MT has the 2nd 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden Valley County, MT | 897 | $54,482 #5/6 | 3.0%/yr #6/6 | 1.5% #2/6 | 0.565 #6/6 |
| Wheatland County, MT | 2,056 | $49,196 | 4.2%/yr | 1.0% | 0.545 |
| Stillwater County, MT | 9,183 | $88,279 | 5.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.537 |
| Musselshell County, MT | 5,152 | $58,855 | 4.4%/yr | 9.2% | 0.534 |
| Fergus County, MT | 11,687 | $63,883 | 5.0%/yr | 4.2% | 0.504 |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 3,720 | $76,628 | 5.5%/yr | 1.8% | 0.507 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Golden Valley 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 Golden Valley County, Montana.
How Rich Is Golden Valley County, Montana?
Golden Valley 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 $54,482, about 25% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
How has median household income changed in Golden Valley County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Golden Valley County, Montana rose 49%, from $36,460 to $54,482. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +49% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Golden Valley County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Golden Valley County, Montana was $57,916, up 8% from $53,709 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Golden Valley County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Golden Valley County, Montana was $48,833. By 2024 it had risen 12% to $54,482.
Is it hard to find a job in Golden Valley County, Montana?
Unemployment in Golden Valley County, Montana is only 1.5%, 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 Golden Valley County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Golden Valley County is 0.565. 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 Golden Valley County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Golden Valley County, Montana has narrowed from about 31% to 29% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 45% in 2023, and was narrowest at 19% in 2011. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,996 since 2009.
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