1st Advantage MortgageSweet Grass County households have a median income of $77,000 and median rent of $1,149 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Sweet Grass County at a glance
- Rent, home values and ownership in Sweet Grass County
- Paychecks and income spread in Sweet Grass County
- Work, industries and travel time in Sweet Grass County
- Places inside Sweet Grass County
- How Sweet Grass County compares with nearby counties
- More Sweet Grass County figures
- Reading the Sweet Grass County data as a borrower
- Room for a loan payment in Sweet Grass County
- Four steps for Sweet Grass County borrowers
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Sweet Grass County at a glance
Sweet Grass County is home to about 3,720 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 39th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Land area is 1,856 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 2 per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Sweet Grass County is not part of any metropolitan area. Big Timber is the biggest of its 2 Census places, at roughly 1,611 people (43% of the county total). With so few households sampled, Sweet Grass County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Rent, home values and ownership in Sweet Grass County
Renters in Sweet Grass County pay a median of $1,149 a month, 6% above the Montana figure of $1,081. 42% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 19% spend half or more. With a median value of $330,100, a typical Sweet Grass County house costs 4.3 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 80%. Median construction year: 1979.
| Home costs | Sweet Grass County | Montana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,149/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $330,100 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 80% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 28% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.9% | 9.4% | n/a |
Owners with equity have a second option. Weigh a secured line against an unsecured loan by risk as well as cost before you choose (how they compare).
Paychecks and income spread in Sweet Grass County
Sweet Grass County households have a median income of $77,000 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 6th of 56 in Montana.
| Households earning | Sweet Grass County | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 21.1% | -1.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 43.7% | +0.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 28.8% | +3.2 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.4% | -2.6 pts |
About 21% of households earn under $35,000, while 35% clear $100,000. Census counts 7.9% of Sweet Grass County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.457 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Sweet Grass County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Work, industries and travel time in Sweet Grass County
The biggest employer of Sweet Grass County residents, by industry, is agriculture, forestry and mining at 20% of workers, followed by education and health care (17%). Agriculture, forestry and mining stands out: 20% of workers here, versus 6% statewide. The survey's unemployment rate for Sweet Grass County averages 1.8% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are common here: 18% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 2.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Sweet Grass County share | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.7% | +13.7 pts |
| Education and health care | 16.7% | -6.5 pts |
| Construction | 13.7% | +4.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.1% | -2.6 pts |
| Manufacturing | 7.6% | +2.9 pts |
| Public administration | 6.4% | +0.7 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Sweet Grass County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Places inside Sweet Grass County
Here are the 2 most populous of the county's 2 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 48% of Sweet Grass County residents live in one of the 2. Live in one of these Sweet Grass County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Timber | city | 1,611 | $66,898 | $1,109 | 2 mi |
| Greycliff | CDP | 158 | $70,417 | n/a | 9 mi |
CDPs are unincorporated communities the Census Bureau defines for counting.
How Sweet Grass County compares with nearby counties
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (29 to 62 miles). 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Sweet Grass County; Gallatin County is highest at $93,528 and Wheatland County lowest at $49,489.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sweet Grass County | - | $77,000 | $1,149/mo | 80% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 29 mi | $84,732 | $961/mo | 83% |
| Park County, MT | 37 mi | $70,047 | $976/mo | 69% |
| Wheatland County, MT | 48 mi | $49,489 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 54 mi | $58,333 | $783/mo | 81% |
| Carbon County, MT | 60 mi | $80,261 | $844/mo | 78% |
| Gallatin County, MT | 62 mi | $93,528 | $1,694/mo | 61% |
More Sweet Grass County figures
24% of Sweet Grass County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. About 10% go without health insurance.
| Residents | Sweet Grass County | Montana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.4% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 2.9% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 10.2% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 2.5% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 16.0% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 7.9% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.8% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Trip time | Share |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 49.0% |
| 15 to 29 min | 21.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 11.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 3.7% |
| 60+ min | 14.2% |
Reading the Sweet Grass County data as a borrower
What the Sweet Grass County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Hospital bills in Sweet Grass County. For the 10% of residents without coverage, the provider's charity-care program comes before any loan (details).
- Fixed incomes. Sweet Grass County's median age is 47.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
Room for a loan payment in Sweet Grass County
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Sweet Grass County's medians:
- Start: $6,417 gross per month ($77,000 / 12)
- Less median rent of $1,149, which is 18% of it
- 36% debt-to-income limit: $1,161 left for all other debt payments
- Under a 43% cap, $2,759 total minus rent leaves $1,610
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Sweet Grass County's.
Four steps for Sweet Grass County borrowers
A short checklist for Sweet Grass County borrowers:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Compare the total repaid on every offer, not just the payment.
- Look the lender up with the state regulator first.
- Pick the shortest term whose payment still fits.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
The Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions is the place to verify any lender's Montana license. Federal complaints: consumerfinance.gov. Statewide data and rules: Montana guide.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Sweet Grass County household make?
About $77,000 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% above the Montana median.
What do renters pay in Sweet Grass County?
$1,149 a month at the median, about 18% of median household income.
What are the biggest places in Sweet Grass County?
By population: Big Timber, Greycliff. The county has 2 Census places in all.
Is the fit check different in Sweet Grass County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Is there a Sweet Grass County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Montana it is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions.