Yellowstone County, Montana Income Statistics
Yellowstone 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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B
Yellowstone County Around averageWealthier than 89% of counties in Montana
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $77,024 | $72,476 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $57,875 | $54,706 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 4.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 11.8% | 10.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 10.0% | 9.0% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Yellowstone County is about 6% higher than in Montana. Income has been growing slower in Yellowstone County (4.2%/yr) than in Montana (5.2%/yr).
About 12% of adults in Yellowstone County earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, higher than the Montana average of 11%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Yellowstone County, Montana grew by 64.3% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $77,024 in 2024. That's an average of about 4.2% per year.
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Yellowstone County
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.511 | 0.523 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $68,504 | $64,583 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $50,440 | $50,364 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 26.4% | 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 Yellowstone County, it is 0.511, 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 36% more than women's income in Yellowstone County, Montana. Over a 35-year career, a 36% wage gap accumulates to roughly $632,240 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Yellowstone County, Montana has narrowed from about 30% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2013, and was narrowest at 25% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,268 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Yellowstone County | Montana Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% | 3.6% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 8.9% | 12.5% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 16 | 16 | 22 |
Approximately 3,005 people are unemployed in Yellowstone County, Montana.
The average commute time in Yellowstone County is 16 minutes, about the same as in Montana.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Yellowstone County, Montana has fallen from 4.7% to 3.4% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 5.3% in 2013 and fell as low as 3.3% in 2019.
Yellowstone County, MT Wealth Compared With Nearby Counties
Yellowstone County, MT is the largest of the 6 counties compared here, 168,956 residents against a local median of 5,152. Yellowstone County, MT's median household income, at $77,024, runs 31% above the $58,855 typical of the counties around it. That is the better end of the local range on this measure.
Unemployment tells the same story from another angle: 3.4% against a local median of 4.4%, 24% below it. Every measure here with a clear better direction points the same way, so Yellowstone County, MT is not trading one advantage for another, it reads stronger than its neighbours across the board. The counties themselves spread $25,126 on median household income, so Yellowstone County, MT sits at one end of an already wide local range rather than apart from it. Yellowstone County, MT has the 2nd highest median household income 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County, MT | 168,956 | $77,024 #2/6 | 4.2%/yr #4/6 | 3.4% #3/6 | 0.511 #2/6 |
| Musselshell County, MT | 5,152 | $58,855 | 4.4%/yr | 9.2% | 0.534 |
| Big Horn County, MT | 12,894 | $57,516 | 3.3%/yr | 13.2% | 0.595 |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 897 | $54,482 | 3.0%/yr | 1.5% | 0.565 |
| Carbon County, MT | 11,116 | $79,608 | 5.1%/yr | 4.4% | 0.525 |
| Treasure County, MT | 732 | $67,777 | 6.2%/yr | 1.0% | 0.472 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Yellowstone County, Montana has an overall wealth index grade of B, making it somewhat better than Montana, and somewhat better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Yellowstone County, Montana.
How Rich Is Yellowstone County, Montana?
Yellowstone County has a wealth index grade of B. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; a B grade means residents are quite well off compared to the U.S. average. The median household income is $77,024, about 6% higher than the Montana average of $72,476.
How has median household income changed in Yellowstone County, Montana?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Yellowstone County, Montana rose 64%, from $46,892 to $77,024. Over the same years, income here lagged behind Montana as a whole: +64% against +68%.
What was the median household income in Yellowstone County in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Yellowstone County, Montana was $74,446, up 2% from $72,764 in 2022. The Montana median that year was $69,624.
What was the median household income in Yellowstone County in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Yellowstone County, Montana was $63,279. By 2024 it had risen 22% to $77,024.
What is the Gini coefficient in Yellowstone County, Montana?
The Gini coefficient in Yellowstone County is 0.511. 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 Yellowstone County, Montana?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Yellowstone County, Montana has narrowed from about 30% to 26% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 32% in 2013, and was narrowest at 25% in 2019. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $5,268 since 2009.
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