Powell County, Montana Income Statistics
Powell 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
Powell County Well below averageAmong the 5 least wealthy counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Powell County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $66,363 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $46,883 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.8% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 5.9% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 3.0% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Powell County is about 8% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing faster in Powell County (5.8%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 6% of adults in Powell 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 Powell County, Montana grew by 64.5% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $66,363 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.8% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Powell County
| Metric | Powell County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.551 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $52,722 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $46,226 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.3% | 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 Powell County, it is 0.551, 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 14% more than women's income in Powell County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $227,360 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Powell County, Montana has narrowed from about 26% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 1% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,082 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Powell County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 2.3% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 9.4% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 12 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 61 people are unemployed in Powell County, Montana.
The average commute time in Powell County is 12 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Powell County, Montana has fallen from 4.4% to 2.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 4.8% in 2022 and fell as low as 1.0% in 2018.
Powell County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Powell County, MT is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,053 residents against a local median of 35,793. Where Powell County, MT breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 37% below the local median of 3.7% at 2.3%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Income growth tells the same story from another angle: 5.8%/yr against a local median of 4.8%/yr, 22% above it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Powell County, MT is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread 0.9% on unemployment, so Powell County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Powell 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powell County, MT | 7,053 | $66,363 #3/6 | 5.8%/yr #2/6 | 2.3% #1/6 | 0.551 #6/6 |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 73,430 | $79,279 | 3.7%/yr | 3.2% | 0.498 |
| Granite County, MT | 3,462 | $59,374 | 2.8%/yr | 3.7% | 0.516 |
| Deer Lodge County, MT | 9,595 | $56,559 | 4.8%/yr | 3.4% | 0.513 |
| Silver Bow County, MT | 35,793 | $61,292 | 5.7%/yr | 4.0% | 0.520 |
| Missoula County, MT | 120,671 | $75,565 | 6.2%/yr | 3.7% | 0.495 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Powell County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of D, making it somewhat worse than Montana, and somewhat worse than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Powell County, Montana.
How Rich Is Powell County, Montana?
Powell 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 $66,363, about 8% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
Are incomes growing in Powell County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Powell County, Montana rose 64%, from $40,346 to $66,363. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +64% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Powell County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Powell County, Montana was $63,394, up 3% from $61,410 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Powell County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Powell County, Montana was $50,279. By 2024 it had risen 32% to $66,363.
How strong is the job market in Powell County, Montana?
Unemployment in Powell County, Montana is only 2.3%, 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 Powell County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Powell County is 0.551. 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 Powell County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Powell County, Montana has narrowed from about 26% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 1% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $2,082 since 2009.
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