1st Advantage MortgageThe median Glacier County household earns $46,875, and 31% of residents live below the poverty line. 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
- Glacier County, MT: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Glacier County
- How much Glacier County households make
- Glacier County housing compared with Montana
- The counties around Glacier County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Glacier County
- What a median Glacier County budget can carry
- More Glacier County figures
- Borrowing situations common in Glacier County
- Montana rules that apply in Glacier County
- Four steps for Glacier County borrowers
- More guides for Glacier County
- Frequently asked questions
Glacier County, MT: the basics
Glacier County is home to about 13,637 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 13th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. It covers 2,995 square miles of land, or about 5 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Glacier County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 18 Census places inside Glacier County, North Browning leads by population with about 3,144; 1 of the 18 are incorporated.
Work, industries and travel time in Glacier County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Glacier County residents work in education and health care and 14% in public administration. Compared with Montana, the county leans toward public administration (14% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 10.0% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 5% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 13% work from home. Only 6.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Glacier County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 28.7% | +5.5 pts |
| Public administration | 14.2% | +8.4 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.8% | +0.3 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 9.4% | +3.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.0% | -2.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.0% | -2.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
How much Glacier County households make
Glacier County households have a median income of $46,875 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 56th of 56 in Montana.
| Income band | Share in Glacier County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 40.6% | +18.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 36.1% | -6.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.4% | -5.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 2.9% | -6.1 pts |
About 41% of households earn under $35,000, while 23% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 31.1%, 20 points higher than the state's 11.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.497 here. For a borrower in Glacier 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.
Glacier County housing compared with Montana
A typical Glacier County rental runs $548 a month including utilities, which is 49% below Montana. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $165,100, a typical Glacier County house costs 3.5 times what the median household earns in a year. 64% of Glacier County households own their home and 36% rent. The median home was built in 1974, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Glacier County | Montana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $548/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $165,100 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 30% | n/a |
The counties around Glacier County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (48 to 90 miles). Income ranges from $52,338 in Pondera County to $73,925 in Flathead County; all six of these neighbors top Glacier County's median.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glacier County | - | $46,875 | $548/mo | 64% |
| Pondera County, MT | 48 mi | $52,338 | $784/mo | 68% |
| Flathead County, MT | 56 mi | $73,925 | $1,142/mo | 72% |
| Toole County, MT | 58 mi | $57,731 | $826/mo | 63% |
| Teton County, MT | 69 mi | $70,430 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Lake County, MT | 89 mi | $63,360 | $901/mo | 75% |
| Liberty County, MT | 90 mi | $57,857 | $710/mo | 63% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Glacier County
The table lists the 14 largest of 18 Census places in Glacier County, by population. Together all 18 hold about 10,377 people, so roughly 24% of residents live outside any named place. Cut Bank has the highest median household income on the list ($49,432) and Browning the lowest ($34,250), counting places with at least 500 residents. Rent is cheapest in South Browning ($430) and steepest in Cut Bank ($988). Live in one of these Glacier County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Browning | CDP | 3,144 | $37,155 | $475 | 9 mi |
| Cut Bank | city | 3,028 | $49,432 | $988 | 31 mi |
| South Browning | CDP | 1,538 | n/a | $430 | 11 mi |
| Browning | CDP | 943 | $34,250 | $589 | 10 mi |
| Glacier Colony | CDP | 404 | n/a | n/a | 36 mi |
| East Glacier Park Village | CDP | 271 | $53,182 | $938 | 21 mi |
| Starr School | CDP | 235 | $72,596 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Babb | CDP | 223 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| St. Mary | CDP | 193 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Little Browning | CDP | 102 | $26,563 | n/a | 30 mi |
| Blackfoot | CDP | 85 | n/a | n/a | 10 mi |
| Big Sky Colony | CDP | 66 | n/a | n/a | 14 mi |
| Glendale Colony | CDP | 48 | n/a | n/a | 22 mi |
| Seville Colony | CDP | 44 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
What a median Glacier County budget can carry
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Glacier County's medians:
- $46,875 a year is $3,906 of gross monthly income
- Housing at the median rent of $548 uses 14%
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $858 left for all other debt payments
- 43% debt-to-income limit: $1,132 left for all other debt payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Glacier County's.
More Glacier County figures
Degree holders: 16% of adults over 25. About 24% go without health insurance.
| Glacier County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 16.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 15.0% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 23.6% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.0% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 12.5% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 31.1% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Glacier County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 58.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 20.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.8% |
| 60+ min | 1.1% |
Borrowing situations common in Glacier County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Glacier County borrowers.
- Uninsured care. 24% lack coverage here; nonprofit hospitals must publish an assistance policy, so ask for it first (guide).
- 13% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Assistance before credit. With a 31% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Glacier County loan.
Montana rules that apply in Glacier County
Glacier County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Four steps for Glacier County borrowers
Steps that save money for Glacier County residents:
- Price the Glacier County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Glacier County
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Glacier County earn?
The median is $46,875; 23% earn $100,000 or more and 41% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Glacier County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $548 a month; 41% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Glacier County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers North Browning, Cut Bank, South Browning, Browning, Glacier Colony and 13 more.
Can Glacier County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Montana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Is there a Glacier County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Montana it is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions.