Powder River County, Montana Income Statistics
Powder River 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
Powder River County Around averageWealthier than 84% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Powder River County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $65,480 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $50,344 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 3.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 9.0% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 7.5% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Powder River County is about 10% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Powder River County (3.9%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 9% of adults in Powder River 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 Powder River County, Montana grew by 65.7% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $65,480 in 2024. That's an average of about 3.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Powder River County
| Metric | Powder River County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.509 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $54,874 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $59,053 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | -7.6% | 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 Powder River County, it is 0.509, 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.
Women's income is about 8% more than men's income in Powder River County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 8% wage gap accumulates to roughly $146,265 in unearned income for male workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Powder River County, Montana has widened from about 3% to -8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2019, and in 2022 women out-earned men by 20%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,063 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Powder River County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 19.6% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 10 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 6 people are unemployed in Powder River County, Montana.
The average commute time in Powder River County is 10 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Powder River County, Montana has fallen from 3.7% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.4% in 2014 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2019.
Powder River County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Powder River County, MT is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 1,815 residents against a local median of 8,165. Where Powder River County, MT breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 71% below the local median of 3.4% at 1.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 3.9%/yr against a local median of 2.7%/yr, 42% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Powder River County, MT is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 9.6% on unemployment, so Powder River County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Powder River County, MT has the 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powder River County, MT | 1,815 | $65,480 #4/6 | 3.9%/yr #2/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.509 #2/6 |
| Custer County, MT | 11,960 | $69,447 | 4.2%/yr | 3.4% | 0.513 |
| Carter County, MT | 1,308 | $57,567 | 2.7%/yr | 2.8% | 0.542 |
| Campbell County, WY | 47,252 | $91,122 | 1.6%/yr | 3.5% | 0.520 |
| Crook County, WY | 7,442 | $77,872 | 3.4%/yr | 1.0% | 0.485 |
| Rosebud County, MT | 8,165 | $49,973 | -1.1%/yr | 10.6% | 0.601 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Powder River 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 Powder River County, Montana.
How Rich Is Powder River County, Montana?
Powder River 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 $65,480, about 10% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
Are incomes growing in Powder River County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Powder River County, Montana rose 66%, from $39,513 to $65,480. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +66% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Powder River County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Powder River County, Montana was $68,169, up 13% from $60,448 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Powder River County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Powder River County, Montana was $55,769. By 2024 it had risen 17% to $65,480.
How strong is the job market in Powder River County, Montana?
Unemployment in Powder River County, Montana is only 1.0%, 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 Powder River County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Powder River County is 0.509. 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 Powder River County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Powder River County, Montana has widened from about 3% to -8% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 25% in 2019, and in 2022 women out-earned men by 20%. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $5,063 since 2009.
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