Valley County, Montana Income Statistics
Valley 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
Valley County Below average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Valley County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $72,210 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $47,863 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.9% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 7.6% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 4.3% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Valley County is about the same as in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Valley County (4.9%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 8% of adults in Valley 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 Valley County, Montana grew by 86.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $72,210 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.9% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Valley County
| Metric | Valley County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.505 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $58,085 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,024 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 13.9% | 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 Valley County, it is 0.505, 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 16% more than women's income in Valley County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 16% wage gap accumulates to roughly $282,135 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Valley County, Montana has narrowed from about 20% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $451 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Valley County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 15.9% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 8 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 112 people are unemployed in Valley County, Montana.
The average commute time in Valley County is 8 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Valley County, Montana has risen from 2.6% to 3.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 6.0% in 2020.
Valley County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Valley County, MT is the 2nd largest of the 6 counties compared here, 7,519 residents against a local median of 1,669. Valley County, MT's unemployment, at 3.0%, runs 67% above the 1.8% typical of the counties around it. That is the weaker end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $72,210 against a local median of $57,132, 26% above it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: median household income runs ahead of the neighbourhood while unemployment runs behind it, so Valley County, MT is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 9.8% on unemployment, so Valley County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Valley 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley County, MT | 7,519 | $72,210 #1/6 | 4.9%/yr #4/6 | 3.0% #5/6 | 0.505 #2/6 |
| McCone County, MT | 1,669 | $65,753 | 5.4%/yr | 2.1% | 0.498 |
| Garfield County, MT | 1,094 | $70,344 | 7.1%/yr | 1.0% | 0.568 |
| Daniels County, MT | 1,494 | $56,668 | 1.1%/yr | 1.0% | 0.525 |
| Phillips County, MT | 4,221 | $54,198 | 4.7%/yr | 1.8% | 0.540 |
| Roosevelt County, MT | 10,526 | $57,132 | 6.5%/yr | 10.8% | 0.613 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Valley 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 Valley County, Montana.
How Rich Is Valley County, Montana?
Valley 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 $72,210, close to the Montana average of $72,476.
How fast is household income rising in Valley County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Valley County, Montana rose 86%, from $38,754 to $72,210. Over the same years, income here outpaced Montana as a whole: +86% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Valley County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Valley County, Montana was $65,738, up 10% from $59,738 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Valley County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Valley County, Montana was $51,365. By 2024 it had risen 41% to $72,210.
What is the Gini coefficient in Valley County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Valley County is 0.505. 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 Valley County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Valley County, Montana has narrowed from about 20% to 14% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 37% in 2018. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $451 since 2009.
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