1st Advantage MortgageCarter County households have a median income of $54,167 and median rent of $824 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Carter County at a glance
- Household income in Carter County
- Employment and commuting in Carter County
- Renting and owning in Carter County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- The communities that make up Carter County
- What a median Carter County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Carter County
- More Carter County figures
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- A Carter County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Carter County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Carter County's population at 1,308; only 49 of Montana's 56 county-level areas are larger. Spread over 3,340 square miles, that works out to roughly 0.4 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Carter County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 2 Census places inside Carter County, Ekalaka leads by population with about 276; 1 of the 2 are incorporated. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Carter County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in Carter County
At $54,167, the typical Carter County household income is 18% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 48th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Carter County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.3% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 46.3% | +3.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.5% | -8.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.8% | -6.2 pts |
About 33% of households earn under $35,000, while 20% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 15.4%, 4 points higher than the state's 11.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.406 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Carter County median.
Employment and commuting in Carter County
By the Census industry count, 50% of employed Carter County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 16% in education and health care. Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (50% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Carter County averages 2.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). 12% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 40% work from home.
| Sector | Carter County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 49.9% | +43.8 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.1% | -7.1 pts |
| Construction | 9.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Public administration | 4.9% | -0.9 pts |
| Other services | 4.9% | -0.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 4.7% | -7.0 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Carter County
Renters in Carter County pay a median of $824 a month, 24% below the Montana figure of $1,081. By the Census definition, 49% of Carter County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $199,200, a typical Carter County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 62% of Carter County households own their home and 38% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1975.
| Housing | Carter County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $824/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $199,200 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 62% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 49% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 54% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 29.0% | 9.4% | n/a |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (51 to 65 miles). Income ranges from $67,045 in Powder River County to $80,441 in Harding County; all six of these neighbors top Carter County's median. Some neighbors are in North Dakota and South Dakota and Wyoming. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Carter County resident follows Montana rules.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter County | - | $54,167 | $824/mo | 62% |
| Harding County, SD | 51 mi | $80,441 | $521/mo | 77% |
| Powder River County, MT | 51 mi | $67,045 | $533/mo | 79% |
| Fallon County, MT | 56 mi | $76,250 | $779/mo | 69% |
| Bowman County, ND | 64 mi | $72,109 | $765/mo | 83% |
| Crook County, WY | 64 mi | $79,637 | $852/mo | 78% |
| Butte County, SD | 65 mi | $75,652 | $972/mo | 76% |
The communities that make up Carter County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Carter County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 289 people, so roughly 78% of residents live outside any named place. No Carter County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 2.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ekalaka | town | 276 | $30,000 | $646 | 26 mi |
| Alzada | CDP | 13 | n/a | n/a | 35 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Carter County budget can carry
How much room does a median Carter County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,514 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $824, takes 18% of that
- With a 36% ceiling, about $801 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 43% ceiling, about $1,117 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $824, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Carter County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Carter County borrowers.
- 29% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Fixed incomes. Carter County's median age is 56.9. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Rent squeeze. 49% of renters spend 30%+ of income on rent; borrow only if the loan cuts what you pay overall.
More Carter County figures
Degree holders: 21% of adults over 25. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Carter County | Montana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.9 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.7% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.5% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 39.5% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.4% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Consumer lenders serving Carter County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Montana that is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Montana guide.
A Carter County borrower's checklist
A short checklist for Carter County borrowers:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Carter County?
$54,167 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,509 for Montana. It ranks 48th of 56 in the state.
How does Carter County rent compare with Montana?
$824 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 24% below.
Which towns does the Carter County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Ekalaka, Alzada.
Does living in Carter 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 Carter County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Carter 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.