1st Advantage MortgageThe median Richland County household earns $73,084, and 7% 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
- Richland County by the numbers
- What Richland County households earn
- Renting and owning in Richland County
- Jobs and commutes in Richland County
- Places inside Richland County
- The counties around Richland County
- Richland County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Richland County
- Room for a loan payment in Richland County
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- Steps before you apply in Richland County
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Richland County by the numbers
Richland County is home to about 11,235 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 19th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Land area is 2,085 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 5 per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. Of the 5 Census places inside Richland County, Sidney leads by population with about 6,171; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
What Richland County households earn
Richland County households have a median income of $73,084 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 12th of 56 in Montana.
| Household income | Richland County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | -1.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.8% | -4.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 29.0% | +3.4 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 11.1% | +2.1 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 40% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.6% of Richland County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.467 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $73,084 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Renting and owning in Richland County
A typical Richland County rental runs $917 a month including utilities, which is 15% below Montana. By the Census definition, 28% of Richland County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $263,000, a typical Richland County house costs 3.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 67%. Median construction year: 1980.
| Richland County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $917/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $263,000 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 67% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 28% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.7% | 9.4% | n/a |
Jobs and commutes in Richland County
The biggest employer of Richland County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 16% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (16%). The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 16% locally and 6% for Montana. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.3% in Richland County. Long commutes are common here: 15% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Richland County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 16.4% | -6.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 15.7% | +9.6 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.9% | -0.8 pts |
| Construction | 10.0% | +0.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.4% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 8.4% | +3.4 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Places inside Richland County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in Richland County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 7,794 people, so roughly 31% of residents live outside any named place. No Richland County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 5.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney | city | 6,171 | $62,538 | $931 | 19 mi |
| Fairview | town | 971 | $86,667 | $725 | 24 mi |
| Savage | CDP | 316 | $86,250 | $750 | 25 mi |
| Crane | CDP | 187 | $79,545 | n/a | 21 mi |
| Fox Lake | CDP | 149 | $83,333 | $1,088 | 8 mi |
The counties around Richland County
The six counties whose centers lie closest to Richland County's, from 39 to 63 miles away. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Richland County; McKenzie County is highest at $93,404 and Roosevelt County lowest at $57,063. The list crosses into North Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richland County | - | $73,084 | $917/mo | 67% |
| Dawson County, MT | 39 mi | $71,334 | $815/mo | 72% |
| Roosevelt County, MT | 40 mi | $57,063 | $705/mo | 67% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 54 mi | $93,404 | $1,284/mo | 53% |
| McCone County, MT | 57 mi | $69,375 | $556/mo | 90% |
| Wibaux County, MT | 58 mi | $67,462 | $963/mo | 72% |
| Williams County, ND | 63 mi | $85,595 | $1,123/mo | 53% |
Richland County households compared
22% of Richland County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 5% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Richland County | All of Montana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.4 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.0% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.7% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.1% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.4% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.6% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.3% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Richland County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 44.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 23.7% |
| 30 to 44 min | 16.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.1% |
| 60+ min | 11.4% |
Borrowing situations common in Richland County
What the Richland County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- 17% mobile homes. Many are not titled as real estate, so home-equity options may not apply; an unsecured loan is the usual route.
- Strong incomes, long terms. 40% of Richland County households earn $100,000+. The risk is a term that outlasts the need.
- Credit reports. Pull free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and dispute errors before applying.
Room for a loan payment in Richland County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Richland County's medians:
- Start: $6,090 gross per month ($73,084 / 12)
- 15% goes to median rent ($917)
- With a 36% ceiling, about $1,276 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Richland County's.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Richland County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. Statewide data and rules: Montana guide.
Steps before you apply in Richland County
Steps that save money for Richland County residents:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Verify the Montana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Richland County earn?
The median is $73,084; 40% earn $100,000 or more and 21% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Richland County rent compare with Montana?
$917 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 15% below.
Which towns does the Richland County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Sidney, Fairview, Savage, Crane, Fox Lake.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Richland County or elsewhere in Montana, the same rules apply.
Is there a Richland County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Montana it is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions.