1st Advantage MortgageIn Broadwater County, Montana, the typical household earns $70,374 a year and the typical rent is $955. 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
- Getting oriented in Broadwater County
- What Broadwater County households earn
- The Broadwater County job picture
- What it costs to live in Broadwater County
- The communities that make up Broadwater County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Who lives in Broadwater County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Broadwater County
- Budget math at the Broadwater County median
- Montana rules that apply in Broadwater County
- Steps before you apply in Broadwater County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Broadwater County
Broadwater County is home to about 7,668 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 28th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. It covers 1,192 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the Helena, MT metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 7 Census places inside Broadwater County, Townsend leads by population with about 1,967; 1 of the 7 are incorporated. With so few households sampled, Broadwater County estimates can move a lot between releases.
What Broadwater County households earn
The median household income in Broadwater County is $70,374; statewide it is $72,509, so Broadwater County runs 3% below Montana as a whole. That places it 19th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Band | Broadwater County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.7% | +0.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.2% | -0.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.3% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 9.8% | +0.8 pts |
About 23% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. 12.7% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Broadwater County median.
The Broadwater County job picture
Education and health care employs 20% of working residents, the largest share; construction is next with 17%. Construction stands out: 17% of workers here, versus 9% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.5% in Broadwater County. About 75% drive to work alone and 18% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Where residents work | Broadwater County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 19.7% | -3.5 pts |
| Construction | 16.7% | +7.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.6% | +0.1 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +2.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.3% | +2.3 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.3% | +2.6 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Broadwater County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
What it costs to live in Broadwater County
Renters in Broadwater County pay a median of $955 a month, 12% below the Montana figure of $1,081. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 58% of renter households here. With a median value of $426,600, a typical Broadwater County house costs 6.1 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 88% of homes. Median construction year: 2001.
| Home costs | Broadwater County | Montana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $955/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $426,600 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 88% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 58% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 11% | 13% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare). When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
The communities that make up Broadwater County
7 Census places fall mainly inside Broadwater County; the 7 biggest are below. They account for 5,431 residents, leaving about 29% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $127,250 at the median in Spokane Creek, $60,521 in The Silos. None of the 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsend | city | 1,967 | $70,752 | $952 | 1 mi |
| Wheatland | CDP | 1,661 | $123,277 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Spokane Creek | CDP | 740 | $127,250 | n/a | 18 mi |
| The Silos | CDP | 579 | $60,521 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Toston | CDP | 368 | $63,206 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Winston | CDP | 81 | $58,159 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Radersburg | CDP | 35 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Jefferson County is closest, 30 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lewis and Clark County, is 69 miles off. Income ranges from $61,754 in Silver Bow County to $95,490 in Jefferson County; 4 of these neighbors top Broadwater County's median.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadwater County | - | $70,374 | $955/mo | 88% |
| Jefferson County, MT | 30 mi | $95,490 | $925/mo | 84% |
| Meagher County, MT | 33 mi | $71,932 | $1,263/mo | 75% |
| Gallatin County, MT | 58 mi | $93,528 | $1,694/mo | 61% |
| Silver Bow County, MT | 63 mi | $61,754 | $863/mo | 71% |
| Cascade County, MT | 69 mi | $67,690 | $939/mo | 69% |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 69 mi | $78,237 | $1,102/mo | 70% |
Who lives in Broadwater County, in numbers
College graduates make up 27% of the adult population. 7.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Broadwater County | Montana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.9 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 27.3% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.6% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.5% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.7% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.5% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Broadwater County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 25.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 34.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 8.3% |
| 60+ min | 9.2% |
Local borrowing considerations for Broadwater County
Based on the Broadwater County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 58% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
Budget math at the Broadwater County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Broadwater County's medians:
- $70,374 a year is $5,864 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $955, or 16 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,391: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Broadwater County's.
Montana rules that apply in Broadwater County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Broadwater County, check the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the Montana state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Broadwater County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Broadwater County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Montana borrowers.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Broadwater County earn?
The median is $70,374; 35% earn $100,000 or more and 23% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Broadwater County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $955 against $1,081 statewide, and 58% of renter households are cost-burdened.
I own my home in Broadwater County. Personal loan or HELOC?
A HELOC uses the house as collateral; a personal loan usually does not. With 88% of homes owner-occupied here, many readers can compare both in writing.
I live in a small Broadwater County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Townsend, Wheatland, Spokane Creek, The Silos, Toston and 2 more.
Can Broadwater County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Montana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.