1st Advantage MortgageIn Sheridan County, Montana, the typical household earns $70,147 a year and the typical rent is $746. 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
- Sheridan County by the numbers
- Paychecks and income spread in Sheridan County
- What it costs to live in Sheridan County
- Employment and commuting in Sheridan County
- Counties near Sheridan County
- The communities that make up Sheridan County
- What a median Sheridan County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Sheridan County
- Who lives in Sheridan County, in numbers
- Steps before you apply in Sheridan County
- Montana rules that apply in Sheridan County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sheridan County by the numbers
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Sheridan County's population at 3,669; only 39 of Montana's 56 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,677 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sheridan County is not part of any metropolitan area. Plentywood is the biggest of its 8 Census places, at roughly 1,654 people (45% of the county total). Because Sheridan County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Paychecks and income spread in Sheridan County
At $70,147, the typical Sheridan County household income is 7% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). That places it 20th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Income band | Share in Sheridan County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 27.8% | +5.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 40.7% | -2.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 23.8% | -1.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.7% | -1.3 pts |
The spread is wide: 32% of Sheridan County households make $100,000 or more, and 28% make less than $35,000. Census counts 10.4% of Sheridan County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.476 here. For a borrower in Sheridan 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 Sheridan County
Renters in Sheridan County pay a median of $746 a month, 31% below the Montana figure of $1,081. 51% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. With a median value of $124,000, a typical Sheridan County house costs 1.8 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 72% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1963.
| Measure | Sheridan County | Montana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $746/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $124,000 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 72% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 51% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.9% | 9.4% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Employment and commuting in Sheridan County
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 21%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 26% locally and 6% for Montana. Averaged over the five survey years, 2.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 65% drive to work alone and 5% have trips of 45 minutes or more. 5.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Sheridan County share | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 25.7% | +19.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 20.8% | -2.4 pts |
| Construction | 11.0% | +1.8 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 9.1% | -1.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.8% | -3.9 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 5.9% | +0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Counties near Sheridan County
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (36 to 84 miles). 4 of the six report a higher median household income than Sheridan County; McKenzie County is highest at $93,404 and Daniels County lowest at $55,625. The list crosses into North Dakota, where different lending rules and regulators apply.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheridan County | - | $70,147 | $746/mo | 72% |
| Roosevelt County, MT | 36 mi | $57,063 | $705/mo | 67% |
| Daniels County, MT | 46 mi | $55,625 | $581/mo | 83% |
| Divide County, ND | 47 mi | $91,852 | $1,105/mo | 77% |
| Williams County, ND | 53 mi | $85,595 | $1,123/mo | 53% |
| Richland County, MT | 64 mi | $73,084 | $917/mo | 67% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 84 mi | $93,404 | $1,284/mo | 53% |
The communities that make up Sheridan County
8 Census places fall mainly inside Sheridan County; the 8 biggest are below. They account for 2,258 residents, leaving about 38% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. This guide covers each of the 8 places and the rural areas around them.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plentywood | city | 1,654 | $68,438 | $760 | 5 mi |
| Westby | town | 290 | $32,500 | $358 | 25 mi |
| Medicine Lake | town | 213 | $48,125 | $493 | 14 mi |
| Outlook | town | 51 | $58,125 | n/a | 17 mi |
| Homestead | CDP | 27 | $162,500 | n/a | 20 mi |
| Reserve | CDP | 19 | $53,750 | n/a | 8 mi |
| Redstone | CDP | 4 | n/a | n/a | 20 mi |
| Antelope | CDP | 0 | n/a | n/a | 4 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
What a median Sheridan County budget can carry
Here is the Sheridan County median household run through a simple DTI check. Your numbers will differ.
- Monthly gross at the median, Sheridan County: $5,846
- Housing at the median rent of $746 uses 13%
- Under a 40% cap, $2,338 total minus rent leaves $1,592
If your rent is above $746, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Sheridan County
Based on the Sheridan County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- 51% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Who lives in Sheridan County, in numbers
College graduates make up 26% of the adult population. The uninsured rate is 7.3%, against 8.6% for Montana.
| Measure | Sheridan County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.1 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.2% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 9.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.3% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 5.2% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.4% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 2.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| One-way commute | Share of Sheridan County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 71.5% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.2% |
| 30 to 44 min | 5.0% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.0% |
| 60+ min | 3.3% |
Steps before you apply in Sheridan County
Quick steps for Sheridan County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Shop at least three lenders, including one Sheridan County-area credit union.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Montana rules that apply in Sheridan County
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Montana license. Banks and credit unions have their own regulators, and the CFPB takes complaints about any lender. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Sheridan County?
$70,147 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,509 for Montana. It ranks 20th of 56 in the state.
How much is rent in Sheridan County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $746 a month; 51% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Should Sheridan County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 72% of Sheridan County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
What are the biggest places in Sheridan County?
By population: Plentywood, Westby, Medicine Lake, Outlook, Homestead. The county has 8 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Sheridan County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.