Yellowstone 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 | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 168,178 | 1,116,316 | 334,821,731 |
| Population density (per sq mi) | 63.5 | 7.6 | 85.8 |
| Population growth (%/yr) | 1.03% | 1.09% | 0.57% |
| Median age | 37.1 | 40.4 | 37.1 |
| Households | 69,272 | 452,676 | 128,459,983 |
Population in Yellowstone County grew by 18.9% from 2009 to 2023, reaching 167,340 in 2023.
Population Growth 2009–2023
Race & Ethnicity
Economy
Yellowstone County has a the economy index of B, which means it is quite prosperous.
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $74,446 | $69,624 | $78,145 |
| Income growth (%/yr) | 4.31% | 5.32% | 5.07% |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.7% | 5.2% |
The median household income in Yellowstone County is about 7% higher than in Montana.
Housing
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $210,343 | $242,768 | $242,182 |
| Median rent | $1,084 | $1,031 | $1,342 |
| Homeownership rate | 69.3% | 69.4% | 65.1% |
The median home price in Yellowstone County is about 16.2 years' worth of rent — buying at the median price costs roughly as much as paying the median rent of $1,084 per month for that long.
Commute Time & Mobility
Commuters in Yellowstone County spend about 34 minutes on the road round trip each working day. Over a typical 250-day work year, that adds up to roughly 141 hours, about 5.9 full days, spent commuting.
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way commute (min) | 16.9 | 16.0 | 22.5 |
| Round-trip commute (min) | 33.9 | 32.0 | 44.9 |
| Yearly time spent (hours) | 141 | 134 | 187 |
| Estimated yearly cost | $4,372 | $4,139 | $5,803 |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 11.6% | 13.4% |
| Highway traffic (vehicles/day) | 3,198 | 2,162 | 8,813 |
| Local road traffic (vehicles/day) | 1,398 | 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 Yellowstone County is 17 minutes, longer 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
Yellowstone County has a education index of C, which means it is somewhat educated.
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.5% | 31.3% | 31.6% |
| Average household size | 2.36 | 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
Yellowstone County has a health index of B, which means it is quite healthy.
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | U.S. Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy (years) | 78.1 | 79.0 | 78.3 |
| Self-rated poor health | 12.0% | 14.7% | 16.3% |
| Smokers | 17.9% | 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 Yellowstone County, Montana.
What is the population of Yellowstone County, Montana?
The population of Yellowstone County, Montana is 168,178, compared to the U.S. total of 334,821,731.
What is the population density of Yellowstone County, Montana?
The population density of Yellowstone County, Montana is 63.5 people per square mile, compared to the U.S. average of 85.8 people per square mile.
What is the median household income in Yellowstone County, Montana?
The median household income in Yellowstone County, Montana is $74,446, compared to the U.S. median of $78,145.
What is the median home price in Yellowstone County, Montana?
The median home price in Yellowstone County, Montana is $210,343, compared to the U.S. median of $242,182.
What is the unemployment rate in Yellowstone County, Montana?
The unemployment rate in Yellowstone County, Montana is 3.4%, compared to the U.S. average of 5.2%.