Lewis and Clark County, Montana Income Statistics
Lewis and Clark 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
Lewis and Clark County Around averageAmong the top 5 wealthiest counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Lewis and Clark County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,279 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $61,061 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.7% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 12.3% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 9.4% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Lewis and Clark County is about 9% higher than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Lewis and Clark County (3.7%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Lewis and Clark County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Montana average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Lewis and Clark County, Montana grew by 57.8% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $79,279 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.7% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Lewis and Clark County
| Metric | Lewis and Clark County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.498 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $72,059 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $56,709 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 21.3% | 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 Lewis and Clark County, it is 0.498, 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 27% more than women's income in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 27% wage gap accumulates to roughly $537,250 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lewis and Clark County, Montana has narrowed from about 23% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,145 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Lewis and Clark County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.2% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.5% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 1,223 people are unemployed in Lewis and Clark County, Montana.
The average commute time in Lewis and Clark County is 16 minutes, about the same as in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Lewis and Clark County, Montana has fallen from 5.8% to 3.2% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.1% in 2012 and fell as low as 3.1% in 2019.
Lewis and Clark County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Lewis and Clark County, MT is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 73,430 residents against a local median of 7,053. The measure that sets Lewis and Clark County, MT apart most is income growth: 3.7%/yr, 26% below the local median of 5.0%/yr. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $79,279 against a local median of $67,044, 18% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while income growth runs behind it, so Lewis and Clark County, MT is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 2.5%/yr on income growth, so Lewis and Clark County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Lewis and Clark County, MT has the 5th highest income growth 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 73,430 | $79,279 #2/6 | 3.7%/yr #5/6 | 3.2% #4/6 | 0.498 #1/6 |
| Powell County, MT | 7,053 | $66,363 | 5.8%/yr | 2.3% | 0.551 |
| Teton County, MT | 6,353 | $71,268 | 4.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.526 |
| Jefferson County, MT | 12,778 | $93,727 | 5.0%/yr | 4.2% | 0.526 |
| Cascade County, MT | 84,603 | $67,044 | 5.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.513 |
| Pondera County, MT | 6,035 | $54,022 | 3.3%/yr | 5.8% | 0.554 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Lewis and Clark 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 Lewis and Clark County, Montana.
How Rich Is Lewis and Clark County, Montana?
Lewis and Clark 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 $79,279, about 9% higher than the Montana average of $72,476.
How fast is household income rising in Lewis and Clark County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Lewis and Clark County, Montana rose 58%, from $50,254 to $79,279. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +58% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Lewis and Clark County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Lewis and Clark County, Montana was $74,496, up 3% from $72,148 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Lewis and Clark County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Lewis and Clark County, Montana was $65,537. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $79,279.
What is the Gini coefficient in Lewis and Clark County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Lewis and Clark County is 0.498. 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 Lewis and Clark County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Lewis and Clark County, Montana has narrowed from about 23% to 21% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 17% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,145 since 2009.
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