Missoula County, Montana Income Statistics
Missoula 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
Missoula County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $75,565 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $53,364 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 6.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.0% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.2% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Missoula County is about 4% higher than in Montana. Income has been growing faster in Missoula County (6.2%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 11% of adults in Missoula 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 Missoula County, Montana grew by 83.2% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $75,565 in 2024. That's an average of about 6.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Missoula County
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.495 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $63,460 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $51,061 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.5% | 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 Missoula County, it is 0.495, 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 24% more than women's income in Missoula County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $433,965 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Missoula County, Montana has narrowed from about 26% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,998 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Missoula County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.7% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 14.6% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 2,646 people are unemployed in Missoula County, Montana.
The average commute time in Missoula County is 16 minutes, about the same as in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Missoula County, Montana has fallen from 7.5% to 3.7% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 9.6% in 2013.
Missoula County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Missoula County, MT is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 120,671 residents against a local median of 7,053. Missoula County, MT's unemployment, at 3.7%, runs 17% above the 3.2% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 3.4% on unemployment, so Missoula County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Missoula 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missoula County, MT | 120,671 | $75,565 #1/6 | 6.2%/yr #3/6 | 3.7% #5/6 | 0.495 #1/6 |
| Lake County, MT | 32,553 | $63,733 | 6.1%/yr | 5.7% | 0.558 |
| Granite County, MT | 3,462 | $59,374 | 2.8%/yr | 3.7% | 0.516 |
| Ravalli County, MT | 46,722 | $71,257 | 7.4%/yr | 3.2% | 0.526 |
| Powell County, MT | 7,053 | $66,363 | 5.8%/yr | 2.3% | 0.551 |
| Mineral County, MT | 4,955 | $65,850 | 7.6%/yr | 3.1% | 0.527 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Missoula County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of C, making it somewhat better than Montana, and about on par with the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Missoula County, Montana.
How Rich Is Missoula County, Montana?
Missoula 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 $75,565, about 4% higher than the Montana average of $72,476.
How has median household income changed in Missoula County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Missoula County, Montana rose 83%, from $41,246 to $75,565. Over the same years, income here outpaced Montana as a whole: +83% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Missoula County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Missoula County, Montana was $71,100, up 7% from $66,336 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Missoula County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Missoula County, Montana was $56,196. By 2024 it had risen 34% to $75,565.
What is the Gini coefficient in Missoula County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Missoula County is 0.495. 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 Missoula County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Missoula County, Montana has narrowed from about 26% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 12% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $1,998 since 2009.
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