Sanders County, MT Population Statistics: Density Map Data
Analyze local population trends, population density map, housing costs, and the local economy.
Area Snapshot Statistics
Key statistics on population, economy, housing, and commuting compared to state and national averages. Explore interactive maps for deeper analysis.
Population: density and quick facts
| Metric | Sanders County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,124 | 1,116,316 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 4.7 | 7.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.86% | 1.09% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 53.1 | 40.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 5,453 | 452,676 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Sanders County grew by 18.1% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 12,935 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Sanders County has a the economy index of D, which means it is barely prosperous.
| Metric | Sanders County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,589 | $69,624 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 6.91% | 5.32% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 3.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Sanders County is about 22% lower than in Montana.
Housing
| Metric | Sanders County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $214,708 | $242,768 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $774 | $1,031 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 80.0% | 69.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Sanders County is about 23.1 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $774 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Sanders County spend about 30 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 126 hours, about 5.3 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Sanders County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 15.2 | 16.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 30.3 | 32.0 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 126 | 134 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $3,915 | $4,139 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 14.5% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,932 | 2,162 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 223 | 403 | 1,355 |
Fastest commutes among counties in
Montana:
Fallon County (7.4 min), Garfield County (7.8 min), Treasure County (7.8 min).
Slowest:
Broadwater County (30.4 min), Granite County (23.4 min), Stillwater County (22.8 min).
The average commute time in Sanders County is 15 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Estimated yearly cost applies a single national wage rule of thumb (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average hourly earnings), not a measurement of wages in this area. Traffic volume figures come from proprietary Ticon and TrafficZoom data.
Education & Households
Sanders County has a education index of F, which means it scores poorly in education.
| Metric | Sanders County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 17.0% | 31.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.33 | 2.38 | 2.54 |
Highest education index among counties in
Montana:
Gallatin County (0.4), Missoula County (0.3), Lewis and Clark County (0.3).
Lowest:
Liberty County (0.2), Toole County (0.2), Wheatland County (0.2).
Health
Sanders County has a health index of C, which means it is somewhat healthy.
| Metric | Sanders County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 79.6 | 79.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 19.5% | 14.7% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 22.3% | 18.8% | 19.0% |
Highest health index among counties in
Montana:
Gallatin County (0.8), Missoula County (0.8), Granite County (0.8).
Lowest:
Glacier County (0.7), Big Horn County (0.8), Roosevelt County (0.8).
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Sanders County, Montana.
What is the population of Sanders County, Montana?
The population of Sanders County, Montana is 13,124, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Sanders County, Montana?
The population density of Sanders County, Montana is 4.7 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Sanders County, Montana?
The median household income in Sanders County, Montana is $54,589, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Sanders County, Montana?
The median home price in Sanders County, Montana is $214,708, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Sanders County, Montana?
The unemployment rate in Sanders County, Montana is 4.2%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.