1st Advantage MortgageThe median Petroleum County household earns $60,208, and 8% 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
- Who lives in Petroleum County
- Household income in Petroleum County
- The Petroleum County job picture
- Renting and owning in Petroleum County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Petroleum County
- Counties near Petroleum County
- Debt-to-income at Petroleum County's medians
- More Petroleum County figures
- Before borrowing in Petroleum County
- Lender oversight for Petroleum County
- Before you sign
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Petroleum County
With an estimated 447 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), Petroleum County ranks 56th of 56 in Montana for population. It covers 1,656 square miles of land, with fewer than one resident per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Winnett, with about 204 people, is the only Census place mainly inside the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Petroleum County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Household income in Petroleum County
The median household income in Petroleum County is $60,208; statewide it is $72,509, so Petroleum County runs 17% below Montana as a whole. Only 34 Montana counties post a higher median.
| Band | Petroleum County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.1% | +4.6 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.2% | -3.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -3.6 pts |
Some 27% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 8.1%, 3 points lower than the state's 11.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.427 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Petroleum County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
The Petroleum County job picture
By the Census industry count, 36% of employed Petroleum County residents work in agriculture, forestry and mining and 20% in education and health care. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 36% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. About 50% drive to work alone and 15% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Petroleum County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 35.7% | +29.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 19.6% | -3.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.2% | -1.5 pts |
| Construction | 10.2% | +1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.8% | +4.8 pts |
| Public administration | 8.5% | +2.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Petroleum County
Renters in Petroleum County pay a median of $800 a month, 26% below the Montana figure of $1,081. With a median value of $201,400, a typical Petroleum County house costs 3.3 times what the median household earns in a year. 73% of Petroleum County households own their home and 27% rent.
| Home costs | Petroleum County | Montana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $800/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $201,400 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 73% | 69% | 75% |
| Burdened owners | 46% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 21.2% | 9.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 29% | 13% | 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).
Cities, towns and CDPs in Petroleum County
Just one Census place, Winnett, lies mainly within Petroleum County; it holds about 204 people. None of the 1 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winnett | town | 204 | $49,583 | $820 | 11 mi |
Counties near Petroleum County
Musselshell County is closest, 45 miles from center to center; the sixth, Phillips County, is 78 miles off. Garfield County leads the group on income ($69,583), Phillips County trails ($53,417), and Petroleum County out-earns 3 of the six.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petroleum County | - | $60,208 | $800/mo | 73% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 45 mi | $58,920 | $1,138/mo | 85% |
| Fergus County, MT | 48 mi | $63,706 | $954/mo | 63% |
| Garfield County, MT | 58 mi | $69,583 | $725/mo | 72% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 69 mi | $58,333 | $783/mo | 81% |
| Treasure County, MT | 78 mi | $67,917 | $850/mo | 68% |
| Phillips County, MT | 78 mi | $53,417 | $536/mo | 74% |
Debt-to-income at Petroleum County's medians
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Petroleum County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $5,017 a month: gross income for a household at the Petroleum County median
- Housing at the median rent of $800 uses 16%
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,006 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- $1,357: what a 43% ratio leaves once rent is paid
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Petroleum County's.
More Petroleum County figures
College graduates make up 31% of the adult population. About 7% go without health insurance.
| People and households | Petroleum County | Montana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 51.6 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 30.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 1.1% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| Work from home | 15.3% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.1% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
Before borrowing in Petroleum County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Petroleum County borrowers.
- Mobile home upkeep. 21% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Petroleum County's median age is 51.6. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Lender oversight for Petroleum County
Petroleum County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Petroleum County residents:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Petroleum County.
- Line up offers side by side: APR, fees in dollars, total cost.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Petroleum County a high-income county?
Its $60,208 median ranks 35th of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How much is rent in Petroleum County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $800 a month.
What are the biggest places in Petroleum County?
By population: Winnett. The county has 1 Census place in all.
Will a Petroleum County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Montana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Petroleum County?
Start with the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.