1st Advantage MortgageAbout 78% of Granite County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $59,265. 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
- Granite County by the numbers
- How Granite County residents earn a living
- Paychecks and income spread in Granite County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Granite County
- Granite County towns compared
- Granite County and the counties next door
- Granite County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Borrowing situations common in Granite County
- What a median Granite County budget can carry
- Montana rules that apply in Granite County
- Checklist for Granite County applicants
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Granite County by the numbers
Roughly 3,462 residents live in Granite County, Montana, 41st by population among the state's 56 counties and county equivalents. It covers 1,727 square miles of land, or about 2 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Granite County is not part of any metropolitan area. Philipsburg is the biggest of its 4 Census places, at roughly 754 people (22% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Granite County estimates can move a lot between releases.
How Granite County residents earn a living
The biggest employer of Granite County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 15% of workers, followed by education and health care (15%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Granite County averages 3.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are common here: 25% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Granite County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.2% | +9.1 pts |
| Education and health care | 14.8% | -8.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.4% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.1% | +1.3 pts |
| Construction | 11.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | -1.4 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Granite County
Granite County households have a median income of $59,265 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 36th of 56 in Montana.
| Yearly household income | Granite County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +5.3 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.1% | -0.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.6% | -0.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.5% | -4.5 pts |
Some 28% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. 10.2% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Granite County median.
Rent, home values and ownership in Granite County
A typical Granite County rental runs $675 a month including utilities, which is 38% below Montana. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 24% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $352,700, about 6.0 times the median household income. 78% of Granite County households own their home and 22% rent. Half the housing stock was built before 1980.
| Home costs | Granite County | Montana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $675/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $352,700 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 31% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.3% | 9.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 42% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Granite County households own, home repairs are a frequent reason to borrow. An unsecured personal loan leaves the house out of the deal, while a HELOC uses it as collateral.
Granite County towns compared
4 Census places fall mainly inside Granite County; the 4 biggest are below. They account for 1,298 residents, leaving about 63% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Granite County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 4.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philipsburg | town | 754 | $29,773 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Drummond | town | 277 | $58,456 | $673 | 23 mi |
| Maxville | CDP | 203 | n/a | n/a | 11 mi |
| Hall | CDP | 64 | $46,985 | n/a | 17 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Granite County and the counties next door
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Granite County's, from 25 to 68 miles away. 5 of the six report a higher median household income than Granite County; Jefferson County is highest at $95,490 and Deer Lodge County lowest at $57,527.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Granite County | - | $59,265 | $675/mo | 78% |
| Deer Lodge County, MT | 25 mi | $57,527 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Powell County, MT | 39 mi | $66,923 | $820/mo | 73% |
| Ravalli County, MT | 39 mi | $71,283 | $1,054/mo | 79% |
| Missoula County, MT | 49 mi | $75,598 | $1,190/mo | 59% |
| Silver Bow County, MT | 50 mi | $61,754 | $863/mo | 71% |
| Jefferson County, MT | 68 mi | $95,490 | $925/mo | 84% |
Granite County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 34% of adults over 25. 8.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Granite County | All of Montana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.2% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.4% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.5% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.5% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.2% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Granite County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 34.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 18.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 9.9% |
| 60+ min | 14.9% |
Borrowing situations common in Granite County
Based on the Granite County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Vehicle repairs. 25% of Granite County workers commute 45+ minutes, so a breakdown can cost a paycheck. Get two written estimates.
- Fixed incomes. Granite County's median age is 53.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
What a median Granite County budget can carry
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Granite County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $4,939 a month: gross income for a household at the Granite County median
- Housing at the median rent of $675 uses 14%
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,054 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,547 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Montana rules that apply in Granite County
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Granite County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Checklist for Granite County applicants
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Ask a Granite County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Granite County earn?
The median is $59,265; 30% earn $100,000 or more and 28% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in Granite County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $675 a month; 47% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
I live in a small Granite County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Philipsburg, Drummond, Maxville, Hall.
Does living in Granite 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 Granite County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Granite County?
Start with the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.