1st Advantage MortgageThe median Cascade County household earns $67,690, and 13% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Who lives in Cascade County
- Income in Cascade County compared with Montana
- Jobs and commutes in Cascade County
- Housing costs in Cascade County
- Places inside Cascade County
- Counties near Cascade County
- Budget math at the Cascade County median
- Borrowing situations common in Cascade County
- Cascade County households compared
- Steps before you apply in Cascade County
- Who licenses lenders for Cascade County residents
- More guides for Cascade County
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Cascade County
With an estimated 84,606 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Cascade County ranks 5th of 56 in Montana for population. Spread over 2,698 square miles, that works out to roughly 31.4 residents per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the Great Falls, MT metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Great Falls is the biggest of its 24 Census places, at roughly 60,329 people (71% of the county total).
Income in Cascade County compared with Montana
At $67,690, the typical Cascade County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Households earning | Cascade County | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.1% | +1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.6% | +2.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.1% | -2.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.2% | -1.8 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. 13.1% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.455 here. For a borrower in Cascade 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.
Jobs and commutes in Cascade County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Compared with Montana, the county leans toward education and health care (26% against 23%). Averaged over the five survey years, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 6% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 7% work from home. 6.0% of households have no vehicle.
| Sector | Cascade County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.2% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.9% | +1.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.6% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.8% | -0.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.3% | -1.5 pts |
| Other services | 6.4% | +1.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Cascade County
Renters in Cascade County pay a median of $939 a month, 13% below the Montana figure of $1,081. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 44% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $265,300, about 3.9 times the median household income. 69% of Cascade County households own their home and 31% rent.
| Cascade County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $939/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $265,300 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 44% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 7.1% | 9.4% | n/a |
Places inside Cascade County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 24 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 84% of Cascade County residents live in one of the 24. Incomes vary by place: $102,708 at the median in Ulm, $50,938 in Cascade. Rent is cheapest in Cascade ($791) and steepest in Malmstrom AFB ($1,220). This guide covers each of the 24 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | city | 60,329 | $63,373 | $900 | 13 mi |
| Malmstrom AFB | CDP | 4,302 | $64,833 | $1,220 | 15 mi |
| Sun Prairie | CDP | 1,171 | $55,688 | n/a | 16 mi |
| Vaughn | CDP | 1,002 | $56,250 | $946 | 19 mi |
| Ulm | CDP | 900 | $102,708 | n/a | 11 mi |
| Black Eagle | CDP | 781 | $69,545 | $1,182 | 15 mi |
| Cascade | town | 572 | $50,938 | $791 | 17 mi |
| Belt | town | 559 | $73,929 | $900 | 20 mi |
| Simms | CDP | 334 | $42,292 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Fort Shaw | CDP | 207 | $56,413 | n/a | 25 mi |
| Gibson Flats | CDP | 158 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Stockett | CDP | 155 | $70,938 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Pleasant Valley Colony | CDP | 137 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Sand Coulee | CDP | 134 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
Counties near Cascade County
Six nearby counties, 50 to 69 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Lewis and Clark County leads the group on income ($78,237), Chouteau County trails ($58,218), and Cascade County out-earns 2 of the six.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cascade County | - | $67,690 | $939/mo | 69% |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 50 mi | $78,237 | $1,102/mo | 70% |
| Judith Basin County, MT | 53 mi | $59,000 | $495/mo | 73% |
| Meagher County, MT | 54 mi | $71,932 | $1,263/mo | 75% |
| Teton County, MT | 56 mi | $70,430 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Chouteau County, MT | 58 mi | $58,218 | $536/mo | 68% |
| Broadwater County, MT | 69 mi | $70,374 | $955/mo | 88% |
Budget math at the Cascade County median
Here is the Cascade County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Start: $5,641 gross per month ($67,690 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $939, takes 17% of that
- Under a 40% cap, $2,256 total minus rent leaves $1,317
If your rent is above $939, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Cascade County
What the Cascade County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
Cascade County households compared
28% of Cascade County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 7.0%, against 8.6% for Montana.
| Cascade County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.6% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.0% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.4% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.1% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 50.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 36.8% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.8% |
| 60+ min | 3.7% |
Steps before you apply in Cascade County
Quick steps for Cascade County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Cascade County-area credit union.
- Verify the Montana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
Who licenses lenders for Cascade County residents
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Montana license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. Statewide data and rules: Montana guide.
More guides for Cascade County
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cascade County a high-income county?
Its $67,690 median ranks 25th of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Cascade County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $939 against $1,081 statewide, and 44% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Great Falls?
Yes, along with the other 23 Census places in Cascade County, such as Malmstrom AFB, Sun Prairie, Vaughn.
Are Cascade County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Cascade 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.