Lake County, Montana Income Statistics
Lake 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
Lake County Well below averageLess wealthy than 73% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lake County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $63,733 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $51,131 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.1% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 8.4% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.9% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lake County is about 12% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing faster in Lake County (6.1%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Lake 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 Lake County, Montana grew by 63.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $63,733 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.1% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lake County
| Metric | Lake County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.558 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,440 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $48,031 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 17.8% | 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 Lake County, it is 0.558, 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 22% more than women's income in Lake County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 22% wage gap accumulates to roughly $364,315 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake County, Montana has narrowed from about 24% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2010, and was narrowest at 16% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,305 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lake County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.7% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 13.2% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 17 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 834 people are unemployed in Lake County, Montana.
The average commute time in Lake County is 17 minutes, longer than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lake County, Montana has fallen from 11.7% to 5.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 14.9% in 2013.
Lake County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lake County, MT is the 3rd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 32,553 residents against a local median of 13,282. Lake County, MT's unemployment, at 5.7%, runs 85% above the 3.1% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.6% on unemployment, so Lake County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lake County, MT has the 5th 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County, MT | 32,553 | $63,733 #5/6 | 6.1%/yr #4/6 | 5.7% #5/6 | 0.558 #6/6 |
| Missoula County, MT | 120,671 | $75,565 | 6.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.495 |
| Flathead County, MT | 110,697 | $73,879 | 5.4%/yr | 2.9% | 0.514 |
| Mineral County, MT | 4,955 | $65,850 | 7.6%/yr | 3.1% | 0.527 |
| Sanders County, MT | 13,282 | $59,078 | 7.1%/yr | 6.0% | 0.552 |
| Powell County, MT | 7,053 | $66,363 | 5.8%/yr | 2.3% | 0.551 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lake County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it about on par with Montana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Lake County, Montana.
How Rich Is Lake County, Montana?
Lake 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 $63,733, about 12% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
How fast is household income rising in Lake County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lake County, Montana rose 63%, from $39,006 to $63,733. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +63% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Lake County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lake County, Montana was $62,750, up 9% from $57,639 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Lake County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lake County, Montana was $52,083. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $63,733.
Is it hard to find a job in Lake County, Montana?
Unemployment in Lake County, Montana is 5.7%, well above the Montana rate of 3.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lake County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Lake County is 0.558. 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 Lake County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lake County, Montana has narrowed from about 24% to 18% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 31% in 2010, and was narrowest at 16% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,305 since 2009.
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