1st Advantage MortgageAbout 75% of Lake County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $63,360. 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 Lake County
- Household income in Lake County
- Employment and commuting in Lake County
- Housing costs in Lake County
- Lake County towns compared
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- A Lake County household budget, worked through
- Before borrowing in Lake County
- Lake County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Licensing and complaints for Lake County
- Before you sign
- More guides for Lake County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Lake County
Roughly 32,561 residents live in Lake County, Montana, 9th by population among the state's 56 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 1,490 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 22 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 24 places in the county (3 incorporated, 21 census-designated); the largest is Polson, with about 5,428 residents, or 17% of the county.
Household income in Lake County
The median household income in Lake County is $63,360; statewide it is $72,509, so Lake County runs 13% below Montana as a whole. Only 31 Montana counties post a higher median.
| Households earning | Lake County | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.6% | +5.0 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.6% | +0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 21.0% | -4.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.9% | -1.1 pts |
The spread is wide: 29% of Lake County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 17.2%, 6 points higher than the state's 11.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.502 here. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Employment and commuting in Lake County
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 12%. The survey's unemployment rate for Lake County averages 5.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Households without a car make up 4.8% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Lake County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.3% | +0.6 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.5% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 8.9% | -0.9 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | -1.2 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +1.5 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Housing costs in Lake County
Renters in Lake County pay a median of $901 a month, 17% below the Montana figure of $1,081. 41% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 20% spend half or more. Home values center on $421,800, or 6.7 years of median income. The ownership rate is 75%. Median construction year: 1986.
| Measure | Lake County | Montana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $901/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $421,800 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 75% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 40% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 10.0% | 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).
Lake County towns compared
24 Census places fall mainly inside Lake County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 15,642 residents, leaving about 52% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Incomes vary by place: $64,091 at the median in Woods Bay, $36,400 in Pablo. Median rent ranges from $793 in Pablo to $1,286 in Woods Bay. None of the 24 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polson | city | 5,428 | $53,418 | $912 | 4 mi |
| Ronan | city | 2,001 | $42,298 | $880 | 8 mi |
| Pablo | CDP | 1,632 | $36,400 | $793 | 3 mi |
| St. Ignatius | town | 977 | $50,000 | $842 | 22 mi |
| Woods Bay | CDP | 835 | $64,091 | $1,286 | 26 mi |
| Arlee | CDP | 812 | $57,500 | $890 | 33 mi |
| Lindisfarne | CDP | 533 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
| Finley Point | CDP | 479 | $65,972 | $1,034 | 7 mi |
| Kerr | CDP | 463 | n/a | n/a | 5 mi |
| Charlo | CDP | 306 | $40,469 | $843 | 14 mi |
| Elmo | CDP | 290 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
| Kings Point | CDP | 274 | $75,147 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Bear Dance | CDP | 220 | $84,732 | n/a | 18 mi |
| Jette | CDP | 218 | $49,219 | n/a | 7 mi |
Neighboring counties at a glance
Six nearby counties, 43 to 85 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $57,476 in Sanders County to $75,598 in Missoula County; 5 of these neighbors top Lake County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | - | $63,360 | $901/mo | 75% |
| Missoula County, MT | 43 mi | $75,598 | $1,190/mo | 59% |
| Flathead County, MT | 45 mi | $73,925 | $1,142/mo | 72% |
| Sanders County, MT | 52 mi | $57,476 | $820/mo | 81% |
| Mineral County, MT | 59 mi | $63,450 | $801/mo | 81% |
| Powell County, MT | 77 mi | $66,923 | $820/mo | 73% |
| Teton County, MT | 85 mi | $70,430 | $730/mo | 76% |
A Lake County household budget, worked through
Lake County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Monthly gross at the median, Lake County: $5,280
- Rent at the median, $901, takes 17% of that
- $1,369: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Before borrowing in Lake County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Lake County borrowers.
- Medical bills. 14% of Lake County residents are uninsured. Before borrowing for care, ask the provider about financial assistance and payment plans.
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
Lake County residents: age, schooling, coverage
32% of Lake County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. 14.5% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Lake County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 31.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 7.1% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 14.5% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.8% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 13.2% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.2% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Lake County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 42.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 29.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 13.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.3% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Licensing and complaints for Lake County
Consumer lenders serving Lake County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Montana that is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Before you apply, wherever you live in Lake County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
More guides for Lake County
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Lake County household make?
About $63,360 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 13% below the Montana median.
What do renters pay in Lake County?
$901 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Should Lake County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 75% of Lake County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Does this page cover Polson?
Yes, along with the other 23 Census places in Lake County, such as Ronan, Pablo, St. Ignatius.
Does living in Lake 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 Lake County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.