1st Advantage MortgageIn Teton County, Montana, the typical household earns $70,430 a year and the typical rent is $730. 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
- Teton County, MT: the basics
- Work, industries and travel time in Teton County
- Paychecks and income spread in Teton County
- Rent, home values and ownership in Teton County
- Places inside Teton County
- Regional comparison for Teton County
- A Teton County household budget, worked through
- More Teton County figures
- Before borrowing in Teton County
- A Teton County borrower's checklist
- Who licenses lenders for Teton County residents
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Teton County, MT: the basics
Teton County is home to about 6,353 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 32nd most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. It covers 2,272 square miles of land, or about 3 people per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Teton County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Choteau is the biggest of its 9 Census places, at roughly 1,479 people (23% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Teton County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Work, industries and travel time in Teton County
By the Census industry count, 21% of employed Teton County residents work in education and health care and 20% in agriculture, forestry and mining. Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (20% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 1.0% in Teton County. Long commutes are common here: 16% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. 6.2% of households have no vehicle.
| Top industries | Teton County share | +/- vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 20.6% | -2.6 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 19.9% | +13.8 pts |
| Construction | 11.1% | +1.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.4% | -3.1 pts |
| Retail trade | 6.7% | -5.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.7% | -4.1 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Teton County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Paychecks and income spread in Teton County
The median household income in Teton County is $70,430; statewide it is $72,509, so Teton County runs 3% below Montana as a whole. That places it 18th among Montana's 56 county-level areas.
| Yearly household income | Teton County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 22.9% | +0.4 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 52.3% | +9.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 19.4% | -6.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 5.4% | -3.6 pts |
The spread is wide: 25% of Teton County households make $100,000 or more, and 23% make less than $35,000. The poverty rate is 13.4%, 2 points higher than the state's 11.5%. Income from any regular source can count, including Social Security, pensions and disability benefits, as long as you can document it.
Rent, home values and ownership in Teton County
A typical Teton County rental runs $730 a month including utilities, which is 32% below Montana. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 42% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $264,000, about 3.7 times the median household income. 76% of Teton County households own their home and 24% rent. The median home was built in 1962, so roofs, wiring and heating systems are a common source of repair bills.
| Measure | Teton County | Montana | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $730/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $264,000 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 76% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 8.6% | 9.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 16% | 13% | n/a |
In an owner-heavy county like Teton County, many borrowers can also choose a home equity loan or line of credit. Those can price lower but put the house on the line, so compare the two in writing; our personal loan vs. HELOC guide walks through it.
Places inside Teton County
9 Census places fall mainly inside Teton County; the 9 biggest are below. They account for 2,994 residents, leaving about 53% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. No Teton County place has a separate guide yet; this county page serves all 9.
| Name | Kind | Pop. | Income | Rent | Miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Choteau | city | 1,479 | $51,632 | $697 | 5 mi |
| Fairfield | town | 759 | $69,265 | $674 | 20 mi |
| Dutton | town | 268 | $60,987 | $758 | 26 mi |
| Power | CDP | 217 | $75,250 | n/a | 28 mi |
| New Rockport Colony | CDP | 110 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Miller Colony | CDP | 67 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Rockport Colony | CDP | 66 | n/a | n/a | 19 mi |
| Bynum | CDP | 15 | $49,375 | n/a | 10 mi |
| Pendroy | CDP | 13 | $83,750 | n/a | 18 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
Regional comparison for Teton County
Distances run center to center, from Pondera County at 28 miles out to Powell County at 74. 1 of the six report a higher median household income than Teton County; Lewis and Clark County is highest at $78,237 and Glacier County lowest at $46,875.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teton County | - | $70,430 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Pondera County, MT | 28 mi | $52,338 | $784/mo | 68% |
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | 48 mi | $78,237 | $1,102/mo | 70% |
| Cascade County, MT | 56 mi | $67,690 | $939/mo | 69% |
| Toole County, MT | 62 mi | $57,731 | $826/mo | 63% |
| Glacier County, MT | 69 mi | $46,875 | $548/mo | 64% |
| Powell County, MT | 74 mi | $66,923 | $820/mo | 73% |
A Teton County household budget, worked through
How much room does a median Teton County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Monthly gross at the median, Teton County: $5,869
- Rent at the median, $730, takes 12% of that
- Under a 36% cap, $2,113 total minus rent leaves $1,383
- Under a 43% cap, $2,524 total minus rent leaves $1,794
Two-income households and single earners in Teton County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
More Teton County figures
27% of Teton County adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or more. The uninsured rate is 5.4%, against 8.6% for Montana.
| Residents | Teton County | Montana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 26.8% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 8.5% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 5.4% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 6.2% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.1% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 13.4% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 47.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 22.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 14.9% |
| 45 to 59 min | 7.6% |
| 60+ min | 7.9% |
Before borrowing in Teton County
What the Teton County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Combining balances. It helps when total cost falls and the cards stay paid down (consolidation).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Teton County borrower sees (free reports).
A Teton County borrower's checklist
Before you apply, wherever you live in Teton County:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Check the license, then the reviews, then the offer.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Who licenses lenders for Teton County residents
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Teton County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. More on Montana: Montana personal loans.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Teton County household make?
About $70,430 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 3% below the Montana median.
How does Teton County rent compare with Montana?
$730 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 32% below.
Should Teton County homeowners use home equity instead?
Maybe, but weigh the risk: 76% of Teton County homes are owner-occupied, and a home-equity loan or line is secured by the house while a personal loan usually is not.
Which towns does the Teton County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 9 Census places: Choteau, Fairfield, Dutton, Power, New Rockport Colony.
Can Teton County residents use the questionnaire?
Yes. It asks the same questions in every Montana county, lists every requirement up front and does not affect your credit score.