1st Advantage MortgageMedian rent in Carbon County is $844 a month against a median household income of $80,261, about 13% of income (ACS 2020-24). A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's Montana license first.
On this page
- Carbon County in brief
- Carbon County income bands
- Homes and rents, Carbon County
- Jobs and commutes in Carbon County
- Carbon County against other Montana counties
- Places inside Carbon County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Debt-to-income at Carbon County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Carbon County
- Who lives in Carbon County, in numbers
- A Carbon County borrower's checklist
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- More guides for Carbon County
- Frequently asked questions
Carbon County in brief
Roughly 11,116 residents live in Carbon County, Montana, 20th by population among the state's 56 counties and county equivalents. Its 2,048 square miles average 5 people per square mile, by the 2024 Census Gazetteer. Metro area: Billings, MT (OMB, 2023). Red Lodge is the biggest of its 15 Census places, at roughly 2,502 people (23% of the county total).
Carbon County income bands
$80,261 is the median household income for Carbon County, set against $72,509 for Montana. In the state ranking that is 4th of 56.
| Band | Carbon County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.1% | -0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.4% | -4.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.5% | +2.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.0% | +1.9 pts |
On the low end, 22% of Carbon County households report under $35,000; at the top, 39% report $100,000-plus. Carbon County counts about 866 residents below the poverty line, 7.8% of the population. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.456 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Carbon County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Homes and rents, Carbon County
Renters in Carbon County pay a median of $844 a month, 22% below the Montana figure of $1,081. Cost-burdened renters, paying 30%-plus of income: 33% in Carbon County, 45% statewide. Home values center on $420,800, or 5.2 years of median income. In Carbon County, 78% of occupied homes are owned by the people living in them. Median construction year: 1977.
| Housing | Carbon County | Montana statewide | Carbon County vs state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent-burdened renters | 33% | 45% | -12.0 pts |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | +8.8 pts |
| Median gross rent | $844/mo | $1,081/mo | 22% lower |
| Mobile homes | 7.8% | 9.4% | -1.6 pts |
| Median home value | $420,800 | $375,800 | 12% higher |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | -1.1 pts |
With 78% of Carbon County homes owner-occupied, equity is a real alternative for many readers; just remember a missed HELOC payment puts the home at risk.
Jobs and commutes in Carbon County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 16% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 15%. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 16% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.5% in Carbon County. Long commutes are common here: 27% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Carbon County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 16.2% | +10.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 15.4% | -7.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.8% | 0.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.0% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | -0.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Carbon County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Carbon County against other Montana counties
- Few Montana counties match Carbon County on the share of commutes over 45 minutes: 27% here, 8% for the state, ranking 3rd highest of 56. With long commutes, a reliable car is part of keeping the job.
- On median household income, Carbon County sits near the top of Montana at $80,261, 4th highest of 56. Higher local incomes do not change lender rules; your documented income is what counts.
- The share of households earning $100,000 or more: 39% in Carbon County. Only 4 of 56 Montana counties are higher. High earners still overpay when they skip comparing offers.
Places inside Carbon County
Places, by size: the top 14 of 15. Roughly 50% of Carbon County lives outside all of them, in open country or unnamed settlements. Joliet ($77,396) and Bridger ($42,891) mark the top and bottom of Carbon County's income range among larger places. Red Lodge and every other Carbon County community use this county guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lodge | city | 2,502 | $55,750 | $717 | 11 mi |
| Bridger | town | 788 | $42,891 | $753 | 7 mi |
| Joliet | town | 613 | $77,396 | $718 | 18 mi |
| Fromberg | town | 438 | $64,500 | $983 | 13 mi |
| Rockvale | CDP | 350 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Belfry | CDP | 231 | $102,823 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Roberts | CDP | 191 | $95,917 | $1,375 | 11 mi |
| Montaqua | CDP | 145 | $124,250 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Bearcreek | town | 88 | $115,000 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Fox | CDP | 80 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Edgar | CDP | 60 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Luther | CDP | 46 | $131,250 | n/a | 19 mi |
| Boyd | CDP | 9 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Roscoe | CDP | 5 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Distances run center to center, from Stillwater County at 35 miles out to Big Horn County at 74. Carbon County's $80,261 median trails 1 of the six and beats 5; the range runs $58,750 (Big Horn County) to $84,732 (Stillwater County). Some neighbors are in Wyoming. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Carbon County resident follows Montana rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon County | - | $80,261 | $844/mo | 78% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 35 mi | $84,732 | $961/mo | 83% |
| Park County, WY | 58 mi | $73,035 | $925/mo | 75% |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 60 mi | $77,000 | $1,149/mo | 80% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 61 mi | $76,570 | $1,131/mo | 70% |
| Big Horn County, WY | 70 mi | $62,101 | $823/mo | 76% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 74 mi | $58,750 | $697/mo | 67% |
Debt-to-income at Carbon County's medians
How much room does a median Carbon County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Carbon County: $6,688
- Housing at the median rent of $844 uses 13%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,564 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,876 total minus rent leaves $2,032
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Local borrowing considerations for Carbon County
A few patterns in the Carbon County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Car trouble. For Carbon County drivers (27% with 45-minute-plus trips), price the repair against the car's value first.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 50, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- Advance-fee offers. No legitimate lender asks a Carbon County borrower to pay first (scam signs).
Who lives in Carbon County, in numbers
In Carbon County, 35% of adults have at least a four-year degree (35% in Montana). About 8% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Carbon County | Difference from Montana | Difference from middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 50.4 | +10.0 yrs | +8.9 yrs |
| Poverty rate | 7.8% | -3.7 pts | -5.4 pts |
| No high school diploma | 3.4% | -2.0 pts | n/a |
| Work from home | 11.0% | -1.5 pts | +2.3 pts |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | -1.3 pts | -2.0 pts |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.5% | +0.8 pts | 0.0 pts |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.6% | -0.6 pts | +12.4 pts |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | -0.3 pts | +0.4 pts |
| One-way commute | Share of Carbon County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 13.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 10.6% |
| 60+ min | 16.1% |
A Carbon County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Carbon County.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Carbon County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Nationally, Carbon County residents can file with the CFPB.
More guides for Carbon County
Next step up from Carbon County:
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Carbon County earn?
The median is $80,261; 39% earn $100,000 or more and 22% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Carbon County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $844 a month; 33% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Carbon County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 78% of Carbon County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
I live in a small Carbon County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Red Lodge, Bridger, Joliet, Fromberg, Rockvale and 10 more.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Carbon County or elsewhere in Montana, the same rules apply.