1st Advantage MortgageThe median Park County household earns $70,047, and 12% 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
- Park County, MT: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Park County
- Income in Park County compared with Montana
- What it costs to live in Park County
- Regional comparison for Park County
- Places inside Park County
- Park County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Park County
- Room for a loan payment in Park County
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- Before you sign
- More guides for Park County
- Frequently asked questions
Park County, MT: the basics
Park County is home to about 17,710 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 11th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. It covers 2,802 square miles of land, or about 6 people per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Park County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 14 places in the county (2 incorporated, 12 census-designated); the largest is Livingston, with about 8,780 residents, or 50% of the county.
Work, industries and travel time in Park County
By the Census industry count, 17% of employed Park County residents work in education and health care and 15% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 15% locally and 10% for Montana. The survey's unemployment rate for Park County averages 2.7% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 3.4% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Park County share | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.1% | -6.1 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 15.5% | +5.7 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 12.9% | +2.4 pts |
| Construction | 12.5% | +3.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 8.0% | -3.7 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.1% | +2.4 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Park County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Income in Park County compared with Montana
At $70,047, the typical Park County household income is 7% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 21st of 56.
| Household income | Park County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 23.9% | +1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 41.1% | -1.7 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 24.5% | -1.1 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.4% | +1.4 pts |
Some 24% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 35% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 12.3%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.452 here. For a borrower in Park 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.
What it costs to live in Park County
Renters in Park County pay a median of $976 a month, 10% below the Montana figure of $1,081. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 18% spend half or more. With a median value of $467,500, a typical Park County house costs 6.7 times what the median household earns in a year. 69% of Park County households own their home and 31% rent. Median construction year: 1980.
| Measure | Park County | Montana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $976/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $467,500 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 69% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 38% | 30% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Regional comparison for Park County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Park County's, from 31 to 76 miles away. Gallatin County leads the group on income ($93,528), Broadwater County trails ($70,374), and Park County out-earns 0 of the six.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Park County | - | $70,047 | $976/mo | 69% |
| Gallatin County, MT | 31 mi | $93,528 | $1,694/mo | 61% |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 37 mi | $77,000 | $1,149/mo | 80% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 57 mi | $84,732 | $961/mo | 83% |
| Madison County, MT | 68 mi | $75,250 | $1,000/mo | 81% |
| Carbon County, MT | 75 mi | $80,261 | $844/mo | 78% |
| Broadwater County, MT | 76 mi | $70,374 | $955/mo | 88% |
Places inside Park County
The table lists the 14 largest of 14 Census places in Park County, by population. Together all 14 hold about 12,357 people, so roughly 30% of residents live outside any named place. Pray has the highest median household income on the list ($96,250) and Gardiner the lowest ($60,598), counting places with at least 500 residents. No Park County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 14.
| Place | Type | Population | Median income | Median rent | From county center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston | city | 8,780 | $65,861 | $1,046 | 14 mi |
| Pray | CDP | 1,129 | $96,250 | n/a | 6 mi |
| Gardiner | CDP | 647 | $60,598 | $769 | 30 mi |
| Clyde Park | town | 341 | $62,917 | $721 | 29 mi |
| Emigrant | CDP | 322 | $62,863 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Corwin Springs | CDP | 207 | $48,244 | $222 | 26 mi |
| Wilsall | CDP | 203 | $56,250 | $384 | 37 mi |
| Wineglass | CDP | 176 | $116,114 | n/a | 12 mi |
| South Glastonbury | CDP | 175 | $68,516 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Pine Creek | CDP | 132 | $87,500 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Silver Gate | CDP | 114 | n/a | n/a | 41 mi |
| Cooke City | CDP | 86 | $49,583 | $1,357 | 43 mi |
| Jardine | CDP | 43 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
| Springdale | CDP | 2 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
Park County residents: age, schooling, coverage
Degree holders: 40% of adults over 25. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Park County | All of Montana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 39.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 3.5% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.1% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.4% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 17.0% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.7% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Park County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.9% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 23.4% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.5% |
| 60+ min | 8.0% |
Local borrowing considerations for Park County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Park County borrowers.
- Benefit income. With half of residents older than 46, lenders often see pension and Social Security income, which counts like wages.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Consolidating cards in Park County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
Room for a loan payment in Park County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Park County's medians:
- $5,837 a month: gross income for a household at the Park County median
- 17% goes to median rent ($976)
- $1,359: what a 40% ratio leaves once rent is paid
If your rent is above $976, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Park County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Montana state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
A short checklist for Park County borrowers:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Park County.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Only work with lenders licensed for Montana borrowers.
- Never pay a fee up front to get a loan.
More guides for Park County
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Park County a high-income county?
Its $70,047 median ranks 21st of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Park County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $976 against $1,081 statewide, and 51% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Livingston?
Yes, along with the other 13 Census places in Park County, such as Pray, Gardiner, Clyde Park.
Is the fit check different in Park County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who regulates personal lenders for Park 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.