1st Advantage MortgageThe median Hill County household earns $52,798, and 21% 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
- Getting oriented in Hill County
- Income in Hill County compared with Montana
- Hill County housing compared with Montana
- Work, industries and travel time in Hill County
- The counties around Hill County
- Towns and communities in Hill County
- What a median Hill County budget can carry
- Who lives in Hill County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Hill County
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- A Hill County borrower's checklist
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Hill County
With an estimated 16,155 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Hill County ranks 12th of 56 in Montana for population. Spread over 2,899 square miles, that works out to roughly 5.6 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Hill County is not part of any metropolitan area. Of the 22 Census places inside Hill County, Havre leads by population with about 9,258; 2 of the 22 are incorporated.
Income in Hill County compared with Montana
At $52,798, the typical Hill County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 49 Montana counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Hill County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 31.2% | +8.7 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 44.6% | +1.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.7% | -4.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 3.5% | -5.5 pts |
The spread is wide: 24% of Hill County households make $100,000 or more, and 31% make less than $35,000. 20.7% 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 Hill County median.
Hill County housing compared with Montana
Renters in Hill County pay a median of $776 a month, 28% below the Montana figure of $1,081. 39% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. Home values center on $202,600, or 3.8 years of median income. The ownership rate is 66%.
| Housing | Hill County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $776/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $202,600 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 66% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 39% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 24% | 30% | n/a |
Work, industries and travel time in Hill County
Education and health care employs 24% of working residents, the largest share; arts, lodging and food service is next with 14%. Transportation, warehousing and utilities stands out: 8% of workers here, versus 5% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.2% in Hill County. 3% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 5% work from home. Households without a car make up 8.6% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Top industries | Hill County share | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.1% | +0.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 13.5% | +3.0 pts |
| Retail trade | 11.5% | -0.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.2% | +3.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.8% | +2.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.4% | +1.3 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
The counties around Hill County
Six nearby counties, 43 to 103 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Blaine County leads the group on income ($64,813), Pondera County trails ($52,338), and Hill County out-earns 1 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hill County | - | $52,798 | $776/mo | 66% |
| Liberty County, MT | 43 mi | $57,857 | $710/mo | 63% |
| Chouteau County, MT | 54 mi | $58,218 | $536/mo | 68% |
| Blaine County, MT | 54 mi | $64,813 | $660/mo | 66% |
| Toole County, MT | 74 mi | $57,731 | $826/mo | 63% |
| Pondera County, MT | 101 mi | $52,338 | $784/mo | 68% |
| Phillips County, MT | 103 mi | $53,417 | $536/mo | 74% |
Towns and communities in Hill County
22 Census places fall mainly inside Hill County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 14,512 residents, leaving about 10% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $63,125 at the median in Rocky Boy West, $44,554 in Havre North. Median rent ranges from $415 in Rocky Boy West to $866 in Havre North. No Hill County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 22.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Havre | city | 9,258 | $50,329 | $844 | 21 mi |
| Rocky Boy West | CDP | 1,007 | $63,125 | $415 | 24 mi |
| Havre North | CDP | 890 | $44,554 | $866 | 20 mi |
| Azure | CDP | 406 | $31,200 | $372 | 26 mi |
| St. Pierre | CDP | 394 | n/a | n/a | 30 mi |
| Beaver Creek | CDP | 340 | $91,563 | n/a | 15 mi |
| Sangrey | CDP | 339 | $35,000 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Rudyard | CDP | 312 | $98,542 | $650 | 21 mi |
| Parker School | CDP | 307 | n/a | $360 | 32 mi |
| Saddle Butte | CDP | 225 | $146,563 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Gildford | CDP | 217 | $98,542 | $605 | 10 mi |
| West Havre | CDP | 143 | $67,188 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Herron | CDP | 132 | $108,235 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Hingham | town | 127 | $96,696 | n/a | 15 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
What a median Hill County budget can carry
Hill County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $4,400 a month: gross income for a household at the Hill County median
- Less median rent of $776, which is 18% of it
- At 36%, room after rent is $808 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Hill County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Who lives in Hill County, in numbers
24% of Hill County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 8.3% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Hill County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.1% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 8.6% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.1% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 20.7% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Hill County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 62.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 30.6% |
| 30 to 44 min | 3.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.8% |
| 60+ min | 1.3% |
Local borrowing considerations for Hill County
What the Hill County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 14% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 21% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Checking a lender's license in Montana
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Montana license. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
A Hill County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Hill County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Montana borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Nearby and statewide guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hill County a high-income county?
Its $52,798 median ranks 50th of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Hill County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $776 against $1,081 statewide, and 39% of renter households are cost-burdened.
What are the biggest places in Hill County?
By population: Havre, Rocky Boy West, Havre North, Azure, St. Pierre. The county has 22 Census places in all.
Does living in Hill 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 Hill County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Who regulates personal lenders for Hill 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.