Wheatland County, Montana Income Statistics
Wheatland 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.
-
D
Wheatland County Well below averageLess wealthy than 78% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Wheatland County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $49,196 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $41,935 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 6.6% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 5.2% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Wheatland County is about 32% lower than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Wheatland County (4.2%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 7% of adults in Wheatland 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 Wheatland County, Montana grew by 62.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $49,196 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Wheatland County
| Metric | Wheatland County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.545 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $43,771 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $35,000 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 20.0% | 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 Wheatland County, it is 0.545, higher than Montana's 0.523, so income is less 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 25% more than women's income in Wheatland County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 25% wage gap accumulates to roughly $306,985 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wheatland County, Montana has narrowed from about 46% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 0% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $10,695 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Wheatland County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 1.0% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 23.3% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 11 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 7 people are unemployed in Wheatland County, Montana.
The average commute time in Wheatland County is 11 minutes, shorter than the 16 minutes in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Wheatland County, Montana has fallen from 4.7% to 1.0% in 2024. Over that period the rate fell as low as 1.0% in 2022.
Wheatland County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Wheatland County, MT is the 5th largest of the 6 counties compared here, 2,056 residents against a local median of 3,720. Where Wheatland County, MT breaks from the counties next to it is unemployment, sitting 43% below the local median of 1.8% at 1.0%. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Median household income tells the same story from another angle: $49,196 against a local median of $63,883, 23% below it. The picture is mixed rather than uniform: unemployment runs ahead of the neighbourhood while median household income runs behind it, so Wheatland County, MT is trading one against the other rather than simply out-performing what surrounds it. The counties themselves spread 3.2% on unemployment, so Wheatland County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Wheatland 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheatland County, MT | 2,056 | $49,196 #6/6 | 4.2%/yr #4/6 | 1.0% #1/6 | 0.545 #5/6 |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 3,720 | $76,628 | 5.5%/yr | 1.8% | 0.507 |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 897 | $54,482 | 3.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.565 |
| Judith Basin County, MT | 2,070 | $59,436 | 3.7%/yr | 1.0% | 0.527 |
| Stillwater County, MT | 9,183 | $88,279 | 5.0%/yr | 3.1% | 0.537 |
| Fergus County, MT | 11,687 | $63,883 | 5.0%/yr | 4.2% | 0.504 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Wheatland 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 Wheatland County, Montana.
How Rich Is Wheatland County, Montana?
Wheatland 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 $49,196, about 32% lower than the Montana average of $72,476.
Are incomes growing in Wheatland County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Wheatland County, Montana rose 62%, from $30,307 to $49,196. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +62% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Wheatland County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Wheatland County, Montana was $47,395, about the same as in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Wheatland County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Wheatland County, Montana was $35,269. By 2024 it had risen 39% to $49,196.
How strong is the job market in Wheatland County, Montana?
Unemployment in Wheatland 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 Wheatland County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Wheatland County is 0.545. 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 Wheatland County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Wheatland County, Montana has narrowed from about 46% to 20% in 2024. Over that period the gap was narrowest at 0% in 2021. In dollar terms, the gap has narrowed by $10,695 since 2009.
Analyze any area in the US
Get local demographics for any address, aggregated by drive time or radius, on the interactive map.
Explore the map →