1st Advantage MortgageIn Silver Bow County, Montana, the typical household earns $61,754 a year and the typical rent is $863. 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
- Silver Bow County by the numbers
- The Silver Bow County job picture
- Paychecks and income spread in Silver Bow County
- Housing costs in Silver Bow County
- How Silver Bow County compares with nearby counties
- The communities that make up Silver Bow County
- What a median Silver Bow County budget can carry
- Local borrowing considerations for Silver Bow County
- Who lives in Silver Bow County, in numbers
- Lender oversight for Silver Bow County
- Checklist for Silver Bow County applicants
- More guides for Silver Bow County
- Frequently asked questions
Silver Bow County by the numbers
Silver Bow County is home to about 35,785 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 8th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. It covers 718 square miles of land, or about 50 people per square mile. It sits outside every metropolitan statistical area in the July 2023 OMB delineation. The Census Bureau counts 2 places in the county (2 incorporated, 0 census-designated); the largest is Butte-Silver Bow, with about 35,052 residents, or 98% of the county.
The Silver Bow County job picture
The biggest employer of Silver Bow County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by retail trade (13%). The sharpest difference from the state is in transportation, warehousing and utilities, at 8% locally and 5% for Montana. ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 4.1% in Silver Bow County. Long commutes are the exception here: 7% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Where residents work | Silver Bow County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 23.6% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.2% | -0.3 pts |
| Construction | 8.0% | -1.2 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.7% | +2.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 7.3% | -2.5 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Paychecks and income spread in Silver Bow County
The median household income in Silver Bow County is $61,754; statewide it is $72,509, so Silver Bow County runs 15% below Montana as a whole. In the state ranking that is 33rd of 56.
| Yearly household income | Silver Bow County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.5% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 45.2% | +2.4 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 20.6% | -5.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.6% | -4.4 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 14.8%, 3 points higher than the state's 11.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.470 here. For a borrower in Silver Bow 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.
Housing costs in Silver Bow County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $863 in Silver Bow County versus $1,081 statewide. By the Census definition, 47% of Silver Bow County renters are cost-burdened. Home values center on $255,200, or 4.1 years of median income. 71% of Silver Bow County households own their home and 29% rent. Median construction year: 1956.
| Silver Bow County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $863/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $255,200 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 71% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 30% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 12% | 13% | n/a |
How Silver Bow County compares with nearby counties
Deer Lodge County is closest, 27 miles from center to center; the sixth, Broadwater County, is 63 miles off. Income ranges from $57,527 in Deer Lodge County to $95,490 in Jefferson County; 3 of these neighbors top Silver Bow County's median.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Bow County | - | $61,754 | $863/mo | 71% |
| Deer Lodge County, MT | 27 mi | $57,527 | $696/mo | 73% |
| Jefferson County, MT | 33 mi | $95,490 | $925/mo | 84% |
| Granite County, MT | 50 mi | $59,265 | $675/mo | 78% |
| Madison County, MT | 53 mi | $75,250 | $1,000/mo | 81% |
| Beaverhead County, MT | 54 mi | $61,268 | $837/mo | 66% |
| Broadwater County, MT | 63 mi | $70,374 | $955/mo | 88% |
The communities that make up Silver Bow County
The table lists the 2 largest of 2 Census places in Silver Bow County, by population. Together all 2 hold about 35,785 people, so roughly 0% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Silver Bow County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte-Silver Bow | place | 35,052 | $61,857 | $856 | 0 mi |
| Walkerville | town | 733 | $48,750 | $1,188 | 11 mi |
What a median Silver Bow County budget can carry
Silver Bow County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- Median income divided by twelve: $5,146 before taxes
- Rent at the median, $863, takes 17% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $1,853 total minus rent leaves $990
Car, student loan and card payments come out of that room first. Try your own numbers in the calculator.
Local borrowing considerations for Silver Bow County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for Silver Bow County borrowers.
- Renters under pressure. When 47% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
- Consolidating cards in Silver Bow County. Compare the total repaid, not the monthly figure (how).
- Scams. A fee demanded before funding is a red flag; report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov (spotting scams).
Who lives in Silver Bow County, in numbers
College graduates make up 28% of the adult population. 6.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Silver Bow County | Montana statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 28.0% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 6.0% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.5% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 7.6% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 14.8% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.1% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Silver Bow County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 57.4% |
| 15 to 29 min | 31.0% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.6% |
| 45 to 59 min | 2.9% |
| 60+ min | 4.2% |
Lender oversight for Silver Bow County
Silver Bow County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Checklist for Silver Bow County applicants
A short checklist for Silver Bow County borrowers:
- Price the Silver Bow County expense first and borrow that amount, no more.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Verify the Montana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Read the final agreement; it must match the offer.
More guides for Silver Bow County
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Silver Bow County a high-income county?
Its $61,754 median ranks 33rd of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
What do renters pay in Silver Bow County?
$863 a month at the median, about 17% of median household income.
Which towns does the Silver Bow County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 2 Census places: Butte-Silver Bow, Walkerville.
Are Silver Bow County applicants treated differently?
No. Everyone answers the same questions and is screened on the same objective points; lending partners set their own criteria under fair-lending laws.
Who regulates personal lenders for Silver Bow County residents?
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions licenses consumer lenders in Montana; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.