1st Advantage MortgageThe median Deer Lodge County household earns $57,527, and 16% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- A quick profile of Deer Lodge County
- How much Deer Lodge County households make
- What it costs to live in Deer Lodge County
- The Deer Lodge County job picture
- How Deer Lodge County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Deer Lodge County
- Deer Lodge County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- What the numbers mean for Deer Lodge County borrowers
- A Deer Lodge County household budget, worked through
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- Steps before you apply in Deer Lodge County
- More guides for Deer Lodge County
- Frequently asked questions
A quick profile of Deer Lodge County
Deer Lodge County is home to about 9,597 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 23rd most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Land area is 737 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 13 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Deer Lodge County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 1 Census place inside Deer Lodge County, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County leads by population with about 9,597. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Deer Lodge County figure on this page as a rough guide.
How much Deer Lodge County households make
Half of Deer Lodge County households take in less than $57,527 a year and half take in more, 21% below the Montana median of $72,509.
| Yearly household income | Deer Lodge County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.2% | +6.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 47.9% | +5.1 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 18.4% | -7.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.5 pts |
Some 29% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 23% have six-figure incomes. 16.3% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.423 (0 is perfect equality). For a borrower in Deer Lodge 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.
What it costs to live in Deer Lodge County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $696 in Deer Lodge County versus $1,081 statewide. By the Census definition, 34% of Deer Lodge County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $231,700, or 4.0 years of median income. The ownership rate is 73%.
| Housing | Deer Lodge County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $696/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $231,700 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 34% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 35% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 5.3% | 9.4% | 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).
The Deer Lodge County job picture
By the Census industry count, 30% of employed Deer Lodge County residents work in education and health care and 12% in construction. Education and health care stands out: 30% of workers here, versus 23% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Deer Lodge County averages 3.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 75% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 7.1% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Deer Lodge County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 30.5% | +7.3 pts |
| Construction | 11.6% | +2.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.4% | -2.3 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.1% | -0.7 pts |
| Public administration | 8.6% | +2.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Deer Lodge County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How Deer Lodge County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 25 to 67 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Jefferson County leads the group on income ($95,490), Granite County trails ($59,265), and Deer Lodge County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer Lodge County | - | $57,527 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Granite County, MT | 25 mi | $59,265 | $675/mo | 78% |
| Silver Bow County, MT | 27 mi | $61,754 | $863/mo | 71% |
| Ravalli County, MT | 46 mi | $71,283 | $1,054/mo | 79% |
| Jefferson County, MT | 52 mi | $95,490 | $925/mo | 84% |
| Powell County, MT | 53 mi | $66,923 | $820/mo | 73% |
| Beaverhead County, MT | 67 mi | $61,268 | $837/mo | 66% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Deer Lodge County
Just one Census place, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County, lies mainly within Deer Lodge County; it holds about 9,597 people. This guide covers each of the 1 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | place | 9,597 | $57,527 | $696 | 0 mi |
Deer Lodge County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. About 6% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Deer Lodge County | Montana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 49.9 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.6% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.6% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.1% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.1% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 16.3% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Deer Lodge County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.6% |
| 15 to 29 min | 24.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 0.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
What the numbers mean for Deer Lodge County borrowers
Where the Deer Lodge County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Retirees. At a median age of 49.9, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
A Deer Lodge County household budget, worked through
Deer Lodge County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,794 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $696, takes 15% of that
- With a 40% ceiling, about $1,222 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $696, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Before sharing details with a lender, a Deer Lodge County resident can confirm its license with 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 Deer Lodge County
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Montana license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Deer Lodge County
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Deer Lodge County earn?
The median is $57,527; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 29% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Deer Lodge County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $696 against $1,081 statewide, and 34% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Deer Lodge County?
By population: Anaconda-Deer Lodge County. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Is the fit check different in Deer Lodge County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Deer Lodge 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.