1st Advantage MortgageAbout 72% of Dawson County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $71,334. 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
- Dawson County at a glance
- Renting and owning in Dawson County
- What Dawson County households earn
- Work, industries and travel time in Dawson County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Dawson County
- Counties near Dawson County
- A Dawson County household budget, worked through
- Reading the Dawson County data as a borrower
- Dawson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checklist for Dawson County applicants
- Licensing and complaints for Dawson County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Dawson County at a glance
Roughly 8,827 residents live in Dawson County, Montana, 26th by population among the state's 56 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 2,372 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 4 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Dawson County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Glendive is the biggest of its 5 Census places, at roughly 4,810 people (54% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Dawson County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Renting and owning in Dawson County
Renters in Dawson County pay a median of $815 a month, 25% below the Montana figure of $1,081. By the Census definition, 36% of Dawson County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $185,300, about 2.6 times the median household income. Owners occupy 72% of homes.
| Dawson County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $815/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $185,300 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 20% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 17% | 13% | n/a |
What Dawson County households earn
The median household income in Dawson County is $71,334; statewide it is $72,509, so Dawson County runs 2% below Montana as a whole.
| Band | Dawson County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.9% | -1.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.1% | +4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 26.8% | +1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.8 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 32% clear $100,000. Census counts 8.7% of Dawson County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. None of these numbers decides a Dawson County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Dawson County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 13%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 12% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 2.7% in Dawson County. About 84% drive to work alone and 12% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 4.1% of households have no vehicle.
| Where residents work | Dawson County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.8% | +0.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 12.2% | +7.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.9% | +3.8 pts |
| Construction | 9.7% | +0.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 6.6% | -3.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Dawson County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Dawson County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Dawson County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 7,187 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. No Dawson County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glendive | city | 4,810 | $72,670 | $842 | 14 mi |
| West Glendive | CDP | 2,121 | $54,922 | $778 | 13 mi |
| Richey | town | 238 | $73,750 | $492 | 27 mi |
| Bloomfield | CDP | 9 | $107,500 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Lindsay | CDP | 9 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
CDP: census-designated place, an unincorporated community mapped for statistics.
Counties near Dawson County
Wibaux County is closest, 36 miles from center to center; the sixth, Fallon County, is 70 miles off. Income ranges from $51,250 in Prairie County to $76,250 in Fallon County; 2 of these neighbors top Dawson County's median. Some neighbors are in North Dakota. Lender licensing is state by state, so a loan for a Dawson County resident follows Montana rules.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County | - | $71,334 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Wibaux County, MT | 36 mi | $67,462 | $963/mo | 72% |
| Richland County, MT | 39 mi | $73,084 | $917/mo | 67% |
| Prairie County, MT | 42 mi | $51,250 | $627/mo | 84% |
| McCone County, MT | 47 mi | $69,375 | $556/mo | 90% |
| Golden Valley County, ND | 54 mi | $68,021 | $638/mo | 80% |
| Fallon County, MT | 70 mi | $76,250 | $779/mo | 69% |
A Dawson County household budget, worked through
Dawson County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Dawson County: $5,944
- Housing at the median rent of $815 uses 14%
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,563 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Subtract what you already pay on other debts. A new payment should fit in what remains, with some to spare.
Reading the Dawson County data as a borrower
Based on the Dawson County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Manufactured homes. 16% of Dawson County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Dawson County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 22% of adults over 25. 6.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 21.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.9% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.6% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.1% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 6.1% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.7% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Dawson County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 66.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 13.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.8% |
Checklist for Dawson County applicants
Before you apply, wherever you live in Dawson County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Licensing and complaints for Dawson County
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Montana license. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Dawson County?
$71,334 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,509 for Montana. It ranks 15th of 56 in the state.
What do renters pay in Dawson County?
$815 a month at the median, about 14% of median household income.
Should Dawson County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Dawson County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Glendive?
Yes, along with the other 4 Census places in Dawson County, such as West Glendive, Richey, Bloomfield.
Does living in Dawson 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 Dawson County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.