1st Advantage MortgageAbout 67% of Big Horn County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $58,750. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Montana before sharing details.
On this page
- A quick profile of Big Horn County
- What it costs to live in Big Horn County
- Paychecks and income spread in Big Horn County
- Jobs and commutes in Big Horn County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Big Horn County
- Big Horn County and the counties next door
- Big Horn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Big Horn County
- Debt-to-income at Big Horn County's medians
- Montana rules that apply in Big Horn County
- A Big Horn County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Big Horn County
Big Horn County is home to about 12,891 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 15th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Land area is 4,998 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 10 places in the county (2 incorporated, 8 census-designated); the largest is Hardin, with about 3,742 residents, or 29% of the county.
What it costs to live in Big Horn County
A typical Big Horn County rental runs $697 a month including utilities, which is 36% below Montana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 22% of renter households here. Home values center on $143,400, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 67% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1976.
| Housing | Big Horn County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $697/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $143,400 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 22% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 41% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 19.0% | 9.4% | n/a |
Paychecks and income spread in Big Horn County
Half of Big Horn County households take in less than $58,750 a year and half take in more, 19% below the Montana median of $72,509.
| Yearly household income | Big Horn County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 30.2% | +7.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 48.7% | +5.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.1% | -7.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.0% | -6.1 pts |
About 30% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 22.1%, 11 points higher than the state's 11.5%. None of these numbers decides a Big Horn County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Big Horn County
Education and health care employs 33% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 14%. Education and health care stands out: 33% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Big Horn County averages 13.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 14% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 6.9% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Sector | Big Horn County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 33.5% | +10.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.5% | +7.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.6% | -0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 6.3% | -3.5 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Big Horn County
Here are the 10 most populous of the county's 10 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 68% of Big Horn County residents live in one of the 10. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $46,071 in Busby to $60,423 in Hardin. Median rent ranges from $405 in Busby to $771 in Hardin. No Big Horn County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 10.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardin | city | 3,742 | $60,423 | $771 | 24 mi |
| Crow Agency | CDP | 2,192 | $52,339 | $474 | 14 mi |
| Muddy | CDP | 724 | n/a | $704 | 38 mi |
| Busby | CDP | 569 | $46,071 | $405 | 27 mi |
| Pryor | CDP | 497 | $47,083 | n/a | 49 mi |
| Wyola | CDP | 481 | $63,032 | $488 | 21 mi |
| Lodge Grass | town | 429 | $49,375 | $850 | 10 mi |
| Fort Smith | CDP | 78 | $51,190 | n/a | 21 mi |
| St. Xavier | CDP | 55 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Forty Mile Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
Big Horn County and the counties next door
Yellowstone County is closest, 52 miles from center to center; the sixth, Carbon County, is 74 miles off. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Big Horn County; Carbon County is highest at $80,261 and Rosebud County lowest at $49,914. Some neighbors are in Wyoming. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Big Horn County resident follows Montana rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Horn County | - | $58,750 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 52 mi | $76,570 | $1,131/mo | 70% |
| Sheridan County, WY | 53 mi | $71,388 | $939/mo | 71% |
| Treasure County, MT | 58 mi | $67,917 | $850/mo | 68% |
| Big Horn County, WY | 65 mi | $62,101 | $823/mo | 76% |
| Rosebud County, MT | 67 mi | $49,914 | $672/mo | 64% |
| Carbon County, MT | 74 mi | $80,261 | $844/mo | 78% |
Big Horn County residents: age, schooling, coverage
18% of Big Horn County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 22% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Big Horn County | Montana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.9 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 17.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 21.7% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.9% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.4% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 22.1% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 13.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Big Horn County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.2% |
Before borrowing in Big Horn County
A few patterns in the Big Horn County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Hospital bills in Big Horn County. For the 22% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Manufactured homes. 19% of Big Horn County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Free help first. 22% of residents live below the poverty line; utility, rent and food programs cost nothing to repay (free options).
Debt-to-income at Big Horn County's medians
Here is the Big Horn County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- $4,896 a month: gross income for a household at the Big Horn County median
- Housing at the median rent of $697 uses 14%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,065 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Big Horn County's.
Montana rules that apply in Big Horn County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Big Horn County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Montana state guide for the statewide picture.
A Big Horn County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Big Horn County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Big Horn County?
$58,750 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,509 for Montana. It ranks 39th of 56 in the state.
How does Big Horn County rent compare with Montana?
$697 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 36% below.
I live in a small Big Horn County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Hardin, Crow Agency, Muddy, Busby, Pryor and 5 more.
Will a Big Horn County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Montana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Big Horn County?
Start with the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.