1st Advantage MortgageThe median Musselshell County household earns $58,920, and 17% 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
- Getting oriented in Musselshell County
- Musselshell County housing compared with Montana
- Paychecks and income spread in Musselshell County
- Work, industries and travel time in Musselshell County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Musselshell County
- Regional comparison for Musselshell County
- Who lives in Musselshell County, in numbers
- Local borrowing considerations for Musselshell County
- Budget math at the Musselshell County median
- Before you sign
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- More guides for Musselshell County
- Frequently asked questions
Getting oriented in Musselshell County
Musselshell County is home to about 5,152 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 35th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. It covers 1,869 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (2 incorporated, 5 census-designated); the largest is Roundup, with about 2,003 residents, or 39% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Musselshell County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Musselshell County housing compared with Montana
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,138 in Musselshell County versus $1,081 statewide. 61% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 13% spend half or more. Home values center on $235,000, or 4.0 years of median income. 85% of Musselshell County households own their home and 15% rent.
| Housing | Musselshell County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,138/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $235,000 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 85% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 61% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 29% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 18.0% | 9.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 19% | 13% | n/a |
Because most Musselshell 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. High rent burdens leave little slack. If you are borrowing to consolidate, make sure the new payment is lower than the ones it replaces.
Paychecks and income spread in Musselshell County
Musselshell County households have a median income of $58,920 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 38th of 56 in Montana.
| Household income | Musselshell County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.3% | +10.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.7% | +2.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 14.7% | -10.9 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.3% | -2.7 pts |
About 33% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. 17.0% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). The Gini index of income inequality is 0.474 (0 is perfect equality). Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Work, industries and travel time in Musselshell County
By the Census industry count, 23% of employed Musselshell County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 6%). The survey's unemployment rate for Musselshell County averages 9.2% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). About 59% drive to work alone and 27% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Households without a car make up 5.9% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Industry | Share of Musselshell County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.4% | +0.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 13.1% | +1.4 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 12.6% | +6.5 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 12.5% | +2.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.6% | +3.6 pts |
| Construction | 8.4% | -0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Cities, towns and CDPs in Musselshell County
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Musselshell County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 2,618 people, so roughly 49% of residents live outside any named place. This guide covers each of the 7 places and the rural areas around them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundup | city | 2,003 | $57,847 | $950 | 6 mi |
| Klein | CDP | 340 | $50,737 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Camp Three | CDP | 139 | $58,000 | n/a | 7 mi |
| Melstone | town | 80 | $65,625 | n/a | 28 mi |
| Musselshell | CDP | 36 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
| Kilby Butte Colony | CDP | 20 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
| Flat Willow Colony | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
Regional comparison for Musselshell County
Six nearby counties, 36 to 67 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Yellowstone County leads the group on income ($76,570), Wheatland County trails ($49,489), and Musselshell County out-earns 2 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Musselshell County | - | $58,920 | $1,138/mo | 85% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 36 mi | $58,333 | $783/mo | 81% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 40 mi | $76,570 | $1,131/mo | 70% |
| Petroleum County, MT | 45 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 73% |
| Treasure County, MT | 59 mi | $67,917 | $850/mo | 68% |
| Fergus County, MT | 62 mi | $63,706 | $954/mo | 63% |
| Wheatland County, MT | 67 mi | $49,489 | $730/mo | 76% |
Who lives in Musselshell County, in numbers
College graduates make up 22% of the adult population. 10.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Indicator | Musselshell County | All of Montana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.7% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.1% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.9% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 22.8% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 17.0% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 9.2% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Musselshell County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 48.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 14.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 9.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 14.2% |
| 60+ min | 13.1% |
Local borrowing considerations for Musselshell County
What the Musselshell County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Musselshell County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Commuter costs. 27% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Manufactured homes. 18% of Musselshell County housing units are mobile homes, and their repairs are often paid with unsecured loans. Get the quote in writing.
- Retirees. At a median age of 51.3, many borrowers here rely on award letters as proof of income; favor no prepayment penalty.
Budget math at the Musselshell County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Musselshell County's medians:
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,910 before taxes
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,138)
- Under a 36% cap, $1,768 total minus rent leaves $630
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Musselshell County's.
Before you sign
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Keep a small cushion so one surprise bill does not mean another loan.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Musselshell County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. Statewide data and rules: Montana guide.
More guides for Musselshell County
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Musselshell County a high-income county?
Its $58,920 median ranks 38th of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Musselshell County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,138 a month; 61% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
What are the biggest places in Musselshell County?
By population: Roundup, Klein, Camp Three, Melstone, Musselshell. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Does living in Musselshell 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 Musselshell County resident as anyone. Lenders decide under fair-lending law.
Is there a Musselshell County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Montana it is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions.