1st Advantage MortgageThe median Fergus County household earns $63,706, and 15% 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
- Who lives in Fergus County
- The Fergus County job picture
- How much Fergus County households make
- Housing costs in Fergus County
- How Fergus County compares with nearby counties
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Fergus County
- More Fergus County figures
- Local borrowing considerations for Fergus County
- Budget math at the Fergus County median
- Licensing and complaints for Fergus County
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Fergus County
Fergus County is home to about 11,687 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 18th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Spread over 4,339 square miles, that works out to roughly 2.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Fergus County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Lewistown is the biggest of its 17 Census places, at roughly 6,087 people (52% of the county total).
The Fergus County job picture
The biggest employer of Fergus County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 21% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (15% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 64% drive to work alone and 9% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 9.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Fergus County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 21.5% | -1.7 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.0% | +9.0 pts |
| Construction | 11.5% | +2.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.7% | -2.0 pts |
| Other services | 7.3% | +2.2 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.2% | -2.6 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
How much Fergus County households make
The median household income in Fergus County is $63,706; statewide it is $72,509, so Fergus County runs 12% below Montana as a whole.
| Household income | Fergus County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.2% | +1.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.4% | +8.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.2% | -6.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.8 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 24% clear $100,000. Census counts 15.1% of Fergus County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.413 (0 is perfect equality). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Fergus County median.
Housing costs in Fergus County
A typical Fergus County rental runs $954 a month including utilities, which is 12% below Montana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 40% of renter households here. With a median value of $236,100, a typical Fergus County house costs 3.7 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 63%. Median construction year: 1966.
| Measure | Fergus County | Montana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $954/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $236,100 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 30% | n/a |
How Fergus County compares with nearby counties
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Fergus County's, from 48 to 73 miles away. None of the six report a higher median household income than Fergus County; Petroleum County is highest at $60,208 and Wheatland County lowest at $49,489.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fergus County | - | $63,706 | $954/mo | 63% |
| Petroleum County, MT | 48 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 73% |
| Judith Basin County, MT | 52 mi | $59,000 | $495/mo | 73% |
| Wheatland County, MT | 58 mi | $49,489 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 58 mi | $58,333 | $783/mo | 81% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 62 mi | $58,920 | $1,138/mo | 85% |
| Chouteau County, MT | 73 mi | $58,218 | $536/mo | 68% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Fergus County
17 Census places fall mainly inside Fergus County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 7,729 residents, leaving about 34% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Fergus County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 17.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewistown | city | 6,087 | $48,750 | $1,007 | 16 mi |
| Lewistown Heights | CDP | 488 | $89,931 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Winifred | town | 263 | $78,393 | $529 | 24 mi |
| Moore | town | 224 | $49,792 | $794 | 28 mi |
| Denton | town | 193 | $56,667 | $1,125 | 34 mi |
| Roy | CDP | 129 | $51,875 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Grass Range | town | 125 | $20,000 | $933 | 24 mi |
| Coffee Creek | CDP | 61 | $85,833 | n/a | 41 mi |
| Warm Spring Creek | CDP | 46 | n/a | n/a | 3 mi |
| King Ranch Colony | CDP | 38 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Deerfield Colony | CDP | 34 | n/a | n/a | 21 mi |
| Spring Creek Colony | CDP | 27 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Ayers Ranch Colony | CDP | 8 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Danvers | CDP | 6 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
More Fergus County figures
24% of Fergus County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 16.2%, against 8.6% for Montana.
| People and households | Fergus County | Montana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.0% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.9% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 9.4% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.8% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 15.1% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 63.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 15.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 12.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.7% |
Local borrowing considerations for Fergus County
Based on the Fergus County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Hospital bills in Fergus County. For the 16% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 13% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Budget math at the Fergus County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Fergus County's medians:
- $63,706 a year is $5,309 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $954 uses 18%
- 35% debt-to-income limit: $904 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 45% cap, $2,389 total minus rent leaves $1,435
Two-income households and single earners in Fergus County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Licensing and complaints for Fergus County
No county office licenses personal lenders. For Fergus County, check the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Fergus County-area credit union.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Montana borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Fergus County earn?
The median is $63,706; 24% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
Is Fergus County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $954 against $1,081 statewide, and 40% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Fergus County?
By population: Lewistown, Lewistown Heights, Winifred, Moore, Denton. The county has 17 Census places in all.
Will a Fergus County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Montana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who regulates personal lenders for Fergus 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.