1st Advantage MortgageThe median Pondera County household earns $52,338, and 22% 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
- Pondera County at a glance
- How Pondera County residents earn a living
- How much Pondera County households make
- Renting and owning in Pondera County
- The communities that make up Pondera County
- Regional comparison for Pondera County
- Debt-to-income at Pondera County's medians
- Local borrowing considerations for Pondera County
- Pondera County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- Four steps for Pondera County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Pondera County at a glance
Pondera County is home to about 6,035 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 33rd most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Spread over 1,625 square miles, that works out to roughly 3.7 residents per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Pondera County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 10 Census places inside Pondera County, Conrad leads by population with about 2,618; 2 of the 10 are incorporated. Because Pondera County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
How Pondera County residents earn a living
Education and health care employs 22% of working residents, the largest share; agriculture, forestry and mining is next with 20%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 20% locally and 6% for Montana. Averaged over the five survey years, 5.8% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 11% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 10% work from home. Households without a car make up 7.0% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Pondera County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.0% | -1.2 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 20.2% | +14.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.9% | -1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.7% | -2.8 pts |
| Public administration | 7.3% | +1.5 pts |
| Construction | 6.2% | -3.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Pondera County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
How much Pondera County households make
At $52,338, the typical Pondera County household income is 20% below the median U.S. county ($65,681). In the state ranking that is 51st of 56.
| Income band | Share in Pondera County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 26.9% | +4.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.7% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.0% | -6.6 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.4% | -4.7 pts |
The spread is wide: 23% of Pondera County households make $100,000 or more, and 27% make less than $35,000. Census counts 21.9% of Pondera County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.438 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Pondera County median.
Renting and owning in Pondera County
A typical Pondera County rental runs $784 a month including utilities, which is 27% below Montana. By the Census definition, 36% of Pondera County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $206,100, a typical Pondera County house costs 3.9 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 68%. Median construction year: 1968.
| Housing | Pondera County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $784/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $206,100 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 36% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 30% | n/a |
The communities that make up Pondera County
10 Census places fall mainly inside Pondera County; the 10 biggest are below. They account for 4,464 residents, leaving about 26% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $31,389 in Heart Butte to $53,021 in Valier. Median rent ranges from $455 in Heart Butte to $918 in Conrad. Live in one of these Pondera County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad | city | 2,618 | $47,857 | $918 | 13 mi |
| Valier | town | 573 | $53,021 | $780 | 6 mi |
| Heart Butte | CDP | 521 | $31,389 | $455 | 29 mi |
| New Miami Colony | CDP | 330 | $2,499 | n/a | 4 mi |
| Dupuyer | CDP | 127 | $110,000 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Birch Creek Colony | CDP | 121 | $2,499 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Brady | CDP | 101 | $68,750 | n/a | 22 mi |
| Pondera Colony | CDP | 42 | n/a | n/a | 9 mi |
| Midway Colony | CDP | 26 | n/a | n/a | 15 mi |
| Kingsbury Colony | CDP | 5 | n/a | n/a | 13 mi |
Regional comparison for Pondera County
Teton County is closest, 28 miles from center to center; the sixth, Lewis and Clark County, is 77 miles off. Income ranges from $46,875 in Glacier County to $78,237 in Lewis and Clark County; 5 of these neighbors top Pondera County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pondera County | - | $52,338 | $784/mo | 68% |
| Teton County, MT | 28 mi | $70,430 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Toole County, MT | 36 mi | $57,731 | $826/mo | 63% |
| Glacier County, MT | 48 mi | $46,875 | $548/mo | 64% |
| Liberty County, MT | 59 mi | $57,857 | $710/mo | 63% |
| Cascade County, MT | 75 mi | $67,690 | $939/mo | 69% |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 77 mi | $78,237 | $1,102/mo | 70% |
Debt-to-income at Pondera County's medians
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Pondera County's medians:
- Monthly gross at the median, Pondera County: $4,362
- Median rent: $784, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- $743: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- 45% debt-to-income limit: $1,179 left for all other debt payments
If your rent is above $784, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Pondera County
Where the Pondera County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Lower-cost alternatives. In a county with 22% in poverty, nonprofit credit counseling may beat a loan (options).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Pondera County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 20% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 8.2%, against 8.6% for Montana.
| Residents | Pondera County | Montana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.1% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 12.9% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.2% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 9.6% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 21.9% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 56.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 17.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.4% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Consumer lenders serving Pondera County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Montana that is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. See the Montana state guide for the statewide picture.
Four steps for Pondera County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Pondera County:
- Get a written quote for whatever you are paying for in Pondera County.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Related local guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pondera County a high-income county?
Its $52,338 median ranks 51st of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Pondera County rent compare with Montana?
$784 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 27% below.
Which towns does the Pondera County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 10 Census places: Conrad, Valier, Heart Butte, New Miami Colony, Dupuyer.
Can Pondera County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Montana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Pondera County?
Start with the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.