1st Advantage MortgageToole County households have a median income of $57,731 and median rent of $826 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). 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
- Who lives in Toole County
- Income in Toole County compared with Montana
- Jobs and commutes in Toole County
- Toole County housing compared with Montana
- The counties around Toole County
- Toole County towns compared
- What a median Toole County budget can carry
- Borrowing situations common in Toole County
- More Toole County figures
- Lender oversight for Toole County
- Four steps for Toole County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Toole County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Toole County's population at 5,061; only 35 of Montana's 56 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 1,915 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 3 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Toole County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Shelby is the biggest of its 7 Census places, at roughly 3,216 people (64% of the county total). Small populations mean wide margins of error, so read every Toole County figure on this page as a rough guide.
Income in Toole County compared with Montana
Half of Toole County households take in less than $57,731 a year and half take in more, 20% below the Montana median of $72,509. Only 42 Montana counties post a higher median.
| Band | Toole County | Compared with Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +1.8 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 51.0% | +8.2 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 17.1% | -8.5 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 7.6% | -1.5 pts |
About 24% of households earn under $35,000, while 25% clear $100,000. Census counts 12.6% of Toole County residents in poverty, against 11.5% across Montana. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Toole County median.
Jobs and commutes in Toole County
The biggest employer of Toole County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 17% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (13%). Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (13% against 6%). Averaged over the five survey years, 4.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking. Long commutes are the exception here: 8% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.3% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry | Share of Toole County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 17.4% | -5.8 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 13.2% | +7.1 pts |
| Public administration | 12.3% | +6.5 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 10.9% | +0.4 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.7% | -1.0 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | +2.0 pts |
Shorter commutes usually mean lower vehicle costs, which can leave more room for a payment, or for paying a loan off early.
Toole County housing compared with Montana
Renters in Toole County pay a median of $826 a month, 24% below the Montana figure of $1,081. By the Census definition, 41% of Toole County renters are cost-burdened. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $218,400, about 3.8 times the median household income. The ownership rate is 63%.
| Cost | Toole County | Montana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $826/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $218,400 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 63% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 41% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 9.7% | 9.4% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 20% | 13% | n/a |
The counties around Toole County
Liberty County is closest, 32 miles from center to center; the sixth, Chouteau County, is 79 miles off. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Toole County; Teton County is highest at $70,430 and Glacier County lowest at $46,875.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toole County | - | $57,731 | $826/mo | 63% |
| Liberty County, MT | 32 mi | $57,857 | $710/mo | 63% |
| Pondera County, MT | 36 mi | $52,338 | $784/mo | 68% |
| Glacier County, MT | 58 mi | $46,875 | $548/mo | 64% |
| Teton County, MT | 62 mi | $70,430 | $730/mo | 76% |
| Hill County, MT | 74 mi | $52,798 | $776/mo | 66% |
| Chouteau County, MT | 79 mi | $58,218 | $536/mo | 68% |
Toole County towns compared
The table lists the 7 largest of 7 Census places in Toole County, by population. Together all 7 hold about 4,105 people, so roughly 19% of residents live outside any named place. Live in one of these Toole County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | city | 3,216 | $58,413 | $893 | 11 mi |
| Sunburst | town | 301 | $65,938 | $1,094 | 18 mi |
| Hillside Colony | CDP | 245 | n/a | n/a | 28 mi |
| Camrose Colony | CDP | 126 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
| Kevin | town | 108 | $38,333 | n/a | 13 mi |
| Sweet Grass | CDP | 70 | $82,000 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Rimrock Colony | CDP | 39 | n/a | n/a | 24 mi |
What a median Toole County budget can carry
How much room does a median Toole County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $4,811 gross per month ($57,731 / 12)
- Rent at the median, $826, takes 17% of that
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,243 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Toole County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in Toole County
Based on the Toole County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Getting ready. Gather pay stubs or benefit letters before you apply (checklist).
- Know your credit. Review all three bureau reports for free (AnnualCreditReport.com).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
More Toole County figures
College graduates make up 23% of the adult population. About 8% go without health insurance.
| Indicator | Toole County | All of Montana | U.S. county median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 22.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 13.7% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 8.3% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.3% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.6% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.6% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 4.9% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Toole County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 61.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 25.4% |
| 30 to 44 min | 4.5% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.1% |
| 60+ min | 7.2% |
Lender oversight for Toole County
Consumer lenders serving Toole County are licensed by the state, not the county; in Montana that is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: Montana guide.
Four steps for Toole County borrowers
A short checklist for Toole County borrowers:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- 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.
Related local guides
For statewide rules and data, see the Montana guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in Toole County earn?
The median is $57,731; 25% earn $100,000 or more and 24% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How does Toole County rent compare with Montana?
$826 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 24% below.
What are the biggest places in Toole County?
By population: Shelby, Sunburst, Hillside Colony, Camrose Colony, Kevin. The county has 7 Census places in all.
Can Toole 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.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Toole County?
Start with the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.