1st Advantage MortgageAbout 64% of Rosebud County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $49,914. 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
- Rosebud County by the numbers
- Housing costs in Rosebud County
- How much Rosebud County households make
- Jobs and commutes in Rosebud County
- Regional comparison for Rosebud County
- Towns and communities in Rosebud County
- Debt-to-income at Rosebud County's medians
- Rosebud County households compared
- Borrowing situations common in Rosebud County
- Montana rules that apply in Rosebud County
- Steps before you apply in Rosebud County
- More guides for Rosebud County
- Frequently asked questions
Rosebud County by the numbers
Roughly 8,165 residents live in Rosebud County, Montana, 27th by population among the state's 56 counties and county equivalents. Spread over 5,008 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.6 residents per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 6 places in the county (2 incorporated, 4 census-designated); the largest is Colstrip, with about 2,101 residents, or 26% of the county. Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Rosebud County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Housing costs in Rosebud County
Renters in Rosebud County pay a median of $672 a month, 38% below the Montana figure of $1,081. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 38% of renter households here. Home values center on $182,400, or 3.7 years of median income. Owners occupy 64% of homes. The median home was built in 1978, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Housing | Rosebud County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $672/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $182,400 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 64% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 38% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 33% | 30% | n/a |
How much Rosebud County households make
Half of Rosebud County households take in less than $49,914 a year and half take in more, 31% below the Montana median of $72,509. In the state ranking that is 53rd of 56.
| Household income | Rosebud County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 33.8% | +11.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 38.5% | -4.3 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 22.4% | -3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.2% | -3.8 pts |
Some 34% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 28% have six-figure incomes. 24.5% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 11.5%). For a borrower in Rosebud 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.
Jobs and commutes in Rosebud County
By the Census industry count, 29% of employed Rosebud County residents work in education and health care and 15% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 15% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 10.6% in Rosebud County. About 73% drive to work alone and 8% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 7.9% of households have no vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Rosebud County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 29.2% | +6.0 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.6% | +8.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.7% | -0.8 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 9.4% | +4.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.2% | -1.1 pts |
| Public administration | 6.2% | +0.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Regional comparison for Rosebud County
Treasure County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Garfield County, is 77 miles off. Custer County leads the group on income ($70,605), Prairie County trails ($51,250), and Rosebud County out-earns 0 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosebud County | - | $49,914 | $672/mo | 64% |
| Treasure County, MT | 29 mi | $67,917 | $850/mo | 68% |
| Custer County, MT | 54 mi | $70,605 | $893/mo | 70% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 67 mi | $58,750 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Prairie County, MT | 71 mi | $51,250 | $627/mo | 84% |
| Powder River County, MT | 75 mi | $67,045 | $533/mo | 79% |
| Garfield County, MT | 77 mi | $69,583 | $725/mo | 72% |
Towns and communities in Rosebud County
The table lists the 6 largest of 6 Census places in Rosebud County, by population. Together all 6 hold about 6,722 people, so roughly 18% of residents live outside any named place. Incomes vary by place: $82,500 at the median in Colstrip, $23,700 in Lame Deer. Rent is cheapest in Lame Deer ($558) and steepest in Forsyth ($776). No Rosebud County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 6.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colstrip | city | 2,101 | $82,500 | $659 | 19 mi |
| Lame Deer | CDP | 1,872 | $23,700 | $558 | 38 mi |
| Forsyth | city | 1,728 | $39,744 | $776 | 7 mi |
| Ashland | CDP | 959 | $45,607 | $621 | 44 mi |
| Rosebud | CDP | 45 | $46,354 | n/a | 12 mi |
| Birney | CDP | 17 | n/a | n/a | 53 mi |
Debt-to-income at Rosebud County's medians
Rosebud County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $4,160 before taxes
- Less median rent of $672, which is 16% of it
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,117 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Rosebud County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Rosebud County households compared
21% of Rosebud County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 16.2%, against 8.6% for Montana.
| Indicator | Rosebud County | All of Montana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 20.9% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 16.2% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.9% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.0% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 24.5% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 10.6% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Commute length | Rosebud County |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 66.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 16.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 8.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.0% |
| 60+ min | 4.5% |
Borrowing situations common in Rosebud County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Rosebud County borrowers.
- Health costs. With 16% of the county uninsured, an interest-free hospital payment plan usually beats a loan (medical bills).
- Repairs on manufactured housing. With 17% of homes here, compare a personal loan with any dealer or park repair program.
- Assistance before credit. With a 24% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Rosebud County loan.
Montana rules that apply in Rosebud County
Rosebud County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. See the Montana state guide for the statewide picture.
Steps before you apply in Rosebud County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Rosebud County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A Montana license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
More guides for Rosebud County
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Rosebud County a high-income county?
Its $49,914 median ranks 53rd of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
Is Rosebud County expensive for renters?
Median rent is $672 against $1,081 statewide, and 38% of renter households are cost-burdened.
Does this page cover Colstrip?
Yes, along with the other 5 Census places in Rosebud County, such as Lame Deer, Forsyth, Ashland.
Is the fit check different in Rosebud County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Rosebud County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Montana it is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions.