1st Advantage MortgageBlaine County households have a median income of $64,813 and median rent of $660 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Blaine County by the numbers
- What Blaine County households earn
- How Blaine County residents earn a living
- Blaine County housing compared with Montana
- The counties around Blaine County
- The communities that make up Blaine County
- Who lives in Blaine County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Blaine County
- Room for a loan payment in Blaine County
- Who licenses lenders for Blaine County residents
- Four steps for Blaine County borrowers
- More guides for Blaine County
- Frequently asked questions
Blaine County by the numbers
Roughly 6,949 residents live in Blaine County, Montana, 31st by population among the state's 56 counties and county equivalents. It covers 4,228 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Blaine County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 11 places in the county (2 incorporated, 9 census-designated); the largest is Chinook, with about 1,353 residents, or 19% of the county. With so few households sampled, Blaine County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Blaine County households earn
Blaine County households have a median income of $64,813 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 29th of 56 in Montana.
| Household income | Blaine County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.4% | +8.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -2.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.8% | -2.2 pts |
About 31% of households earn under $35,000, while 28% clear $100,000. Census counts 18.3% of Blaine County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.481 here. For a borrower in Blaine County, the county median is only context: a lender looks at the income you can document, so pay stubs, benefit letters or tax returns matter more than any average.
How Blaine County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 18%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 18% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Blaine County averages 13.6% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 7% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 17% work from home.
| Where residents work | Blaine County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 18.4% | +12.3 pts |
| Public administration | 12.9% | +7.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.7% | -3.0 pts |
| Construction | 8.3% | -0.9 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +2.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Blaine County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Blaine County housing compared with Montana
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $660 in Blaine County versus $1,081 statewide. 29% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 14% spend half or more. Home values center on $155,500, or 2.4 years of median income. Owners occupy 66% of homes.
| Blaine County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $660/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $155,500 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 29% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.9% | 9.4% | n/a |
The counties around Blaine County
Phillips County is closest, 49 miles from center to center; the sixth, Petroleum County, is 95 miles off. Income ranges from $52,798 in Hill County to $63,706 in Fergus County; none of these neighbors top Blaine County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blaine County | - | $64,813 | $660/mo | 66% |
| Phillips County, MT | 49 mi | $53,417 | $536/mo | 74% |
| Hill County, MT | 54 mi | $52,798 | $776/mo | 66% |
| Chouteau County, MT | 77 mi | $58,218 | $536/mo | 68% |
| Fergus County, MT | 84 mi | $63,706 | $954/mo | 63% |
| Liberty County, MT | 95 mi | $57,857 | $710/mo | 63% |
| Petroleum County, MT | 95 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 73% |
The communities that make up Blaine County
The table lists the 11 largest of 11 Census places in Blaine County, by population. Together all 11 hold about 4,946 people, so roughly 29% of residents live outside any named place. Harlem has the highest median household income on the list ($82,596) and Fort Belknap Agency the lowest ($46,071), counting places with at least 500 residents. Median rent ranges from $368 in Fort Belknap Agency to $824 in Harlem. Live in one of these Blaine County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chinook | city | 1,353 | $61,750 | $763 | 16 mi |
| Fort Belknap Agency | CDP | 1,227 | $46,071 | $368 | 13 mi |
| Hays | CDP | 1,009 | $52,250 | $625 | 32 mi |
| Harlem | city | 822 | $82,596 | $824 | 11 mi |
| Lodge Pole | CDP | 170 | n/a | n/a | 34 mi |
| Turner Colony | CDP | 157 | $133,125 | n/a | 34 mi |
| Turner | CDP | 69 | $55,179 | $242 | 39 mi |
| North Harlem Colony | CDP | 67 | $127,000 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Zurich | CDP | 38 | $81,250 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Hartland Colony | CDP | 29 | n/a | n/a | 42 mi |
| Hogeland | CDP | 5 | n/a | n/a | 33 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Who lives in Blaine County, in numbers
24% of Blaine County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 18% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Blaine County | Montana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.6 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 23.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 18.3% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.6% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.6% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 13.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.9% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Blaine County
A few patterns in the Blaine County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Uninsured care. 18% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 18% below poverty. Emergency aid, payment plans and counseling (list) come first.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Room for a loan payment in Blaine County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Blaine County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,401 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $660, takes 12% of that
- $1,230: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- $1,770: what a 45% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Blaine County's.
Who licenses lenders for Blaine County residents
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Blaine County, check the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Four steps for Blaine County borrowers
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
More guides for Blaine County
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Blaine County?
$64,813 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,509 for Montana. It ranks 29th of 56 in the state.
What do renters pay in Blaine County?
$660 a month at the median, about 12% of median household income.
Does this page cover Chinook?
Yes, along with the other 10 Census places in Blaine County, such as Fort Belknap Agency, Hays, Harlem.
Is the fit check different in Blaine County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Blaine 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.