1st Advantage MortgageAbout 66% of Beaverhead County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $61,268. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- A quick profile of Beaverhead County
- What Beaverhead County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Beaverhead County
- Housing costs in Beaverhead County
- How Beaverhead County compares with nearby counties
- Places inside Beaverhead County
- What a median Beaverhead County budget can carry
- What the numbers mean for Beaverhead County borrowers
- Who lives in Beaverhead County, in numbers
- Before you sign
- Licensing and complaints for Beaverhead County
- More guides for Beaverhead County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Beaverhead County
With an estimated 9,713 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Beaverhead County ranks 22nd of 56 in Montana for population. Spread over 5,543 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.8 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Beaverhead County is not part of any metropolitan area. Dillon is the biggest of its 12 Census places, at roughly 4,085 people (42% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Beaverhead County figure on this page as a rough guide.
What Beaverhead County households earn
The median household income in Beaverhead County is $61,268; statewide it is $72,509, so Beaverhead County runs 16% below Montana as a whole. That places it 34th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Beaverhead County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.8% | +2.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.4% | +6.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.3% | -5.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.5% | -3.5 pts |
About 25% of households earn under $35,000, while 26% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 11.4%, the same as the state's 11.5%. None of these numbers decides a Beaverhead County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Beaverhead County
The biggest employer of Beaverhead County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 27% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (14%). Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (14% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 1.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 73% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 0.8% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Sector | Beaverhead County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 27.4% | +4.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.4% | +8.3 pts |
| Construction | 9.6% | +0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.5% | -3.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.4% | -2.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Housing costs in Beaverhead County
A typical Beaverhead County rental runs $837 a month including utilities, which is 23% below Montana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 39% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $308,300, about 5.0 times the median household income. Owners occupy 66% of homes. The median home was built in 1979, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Beaverhead County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $837/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $308,300 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 22% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 13% | n/a |
How Beaverhead County compares with nearby counties
Distances run center to center, from Madison County at 49 miles out to Jefferson County at 79. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Beaverhead County; Jefferson County is highest at $95,490 and Lemhi County lowest at $53,202. The list crosses into Idaho, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaverhead County | - | $61,268 | $837/mo | 66% |
| Madison County, MT | 49 mi | $75,250 | $1,000/mo | 81% |
| Lemhi County, ID | 51 mi | $53,202 | $754/mo | 79% |
| Silver Bow County, MT | 54 mi | $61,754 | $863/mo | 71% |
| Clark County, ID | 64 mi | $55,208 | $773/mo | 61% |
| Deer Lodge County, MT | 67 mi | $57,527 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Jefferson County, MT | 79 mi | $95,490 | $925/mo | 84% |
Places inside Beaverhead County
The table lists the 12 largest of 12 Census places in Beaverhead County, by population. Together all 12 hold about 4,804 people, so roughly 51% of residents live outside any named place. None of the 12 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dillon | city | 4,085 | $61,134 | $864 | 14 mi |
| Lima | town | 218 | $53,871 | n/a | 37 mi |
| Wisdom | CDP | 110 | $61,198 | $550 | 42 mi |
| Argenta | CDP | 94 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Maverick Mountain | CDP | 73 | $88,333 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Jackson | CDP | 61 | n/a | $708 | 30 mi |
| Lakeview | CDP | 32 | n/a | n/a | 64 mi |
| Grant | CDP | 31 | $61,719 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Wise River | CDP | 30 | $55,313 | n/a | 46 mi |
| Dewey | CDP | 26 | n/a | n/a | 44 mi |
| Dell | CDP | 24 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
| Glen | CDP | 20 | n/a | n/a | 26 mi |
What a median Beaverhead County budget can carry
Here is the Beaverhead County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $5,106 a month: gross income for a household at the Beaverhead County median
- Housing at the median rent of $837 uses 16%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,001 left for all other debt payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
What the numbers mean for Beaverhead County borrowers
What the Beaverhead County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Mobile home upkeep. 18% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Who lives in Beaverhead County, in numbers
38% of Beaverhead County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 4.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Beaverhead County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.2 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.7% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.3% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 0.8% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.2% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 11.4% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 59.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.0% |
| 60+ min | 8.6% |
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Beaverhead County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Licensing and complaints for Beaverhead County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Beaverhead County, check the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
More guides for Beaverhead County
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Beaverhead County earn?
The median is $61,268; 26% earn $100,000 or more and 25% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Beaverhead County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $837 against $1,081 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Dillon?
Yes, along with the other 11 Census places in Beaverhead County, such as Lima, Wisdom, Argenta.
Does living in Beaverhead County change what I qualify for?
Not in our fit check, which uses only the amount, credit range, income and payments you enter, the same for a Beaverhead County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Beaverhead County residents?
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Montana; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.