Pondera County, Montana Income Statistics
Pondera 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
Pondera County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Pondera County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $54,022 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $45,946 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.3% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.4% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.4% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Pondera County is about 25% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Pondera County (3.3%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Pondera 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 Pondera County, Montana grew by 63.4% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $54,022 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.3% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Pondera County
| Metric | Pondera County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.554 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,274 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $43,635 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 19.6% | 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 Pondera County, it is 0.554, higher than Montana's 0.523, so income is less evenly distributed here than there, and about the same as the US's 0.552, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there.
Men's income is about 24% more than women's income in Pondera County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 24% wage gap accumulates to roughly $372,365 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pondera County, Montana has widened from about 18% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2017, and was narrowest at 17% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,725 since 2009.
Sharply against the trend: the pay gap in Pondera County widened by 1.2 points while Montana's narrowed by 6.2 points.
Employment
| Metric | Pondera County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 5.8% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.6% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 162 people are unemployed in Pondera County, Montana.
The average commute time in Pondera County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Pondera County, Montana has risen from 4.6% to 5.8% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 8.7% in 2020.
Pondera County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Pondera County, MT is typical in size for this group, 6,035 residents against a local median of 6,353, so the measures below are close to a like for like comparison. Where Pondera County, MT breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 82% above the local median of 3.2% at 5.8%. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
The counties themselves spread 9.0% on unemployment, so Pondera County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Pondera 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pondera County, MT | 6,035 | $54,022 #5/6 | 3.3%/yr #4/6 | 5.8% #5/6 | 0.554 #3/6 |
| Teton County, MT | 6,353 | $71,268 | 4.8%/yr | 1.0% | 0.526 |
| Toole County, MT | 5,058 | $57,336 | 2.5%/yr | 4.9% | 0.571 |
| Glacier County, MT | 13,635 | $47,127 | 6.2%/yr | 10.0% | 0.601 |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 73,430 | $79,279 | 3.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.498 |
| Liberty County, MT | 1,951 | $57,735 | 2.9%/yr | 1.0% | 0.557 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Pondera 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 Pondera County, Montana.
How Rich Is Pondera County, Montana?
Pondera 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 $54,022, about 25% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
Are incomes growing in Pondera County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Pondera County, Montana rose 63%, from $33,056 to $54,022. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +63% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Pondera County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Pondera County, Montana was $52,562, down 12% from $59,815 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Pondera County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Pondera County, Montana was $54,477. By 2024 it had fallen 1% to $54,022.
Is unemployment high in Pondera County, Montana?
Unemployment in Pondera County, Montana is 5.8%, well above the Montana rate of 3.6%, so job seekers may face more competition than elsewhere.
What is the Gini coefficient in Pondera County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Pondera County is 0.554. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is almost the same as the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed about as equally as in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Pondera County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Pondera County, Montana has widened from about 18% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 33% in 2017, and was narrowest at 17% in 2020. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $4,725 since 2009.
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