1st Advantage MortgageThe median Treasure County household earns $67,917, and 12% of residents live below the poverty line. Those figures describe the county, not you: compare at least three written offers by APR and total cost, and confirm the lender's license before you apply.
On this page
- Treasure County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in Treasure County
- Housing costs in Treasure County
- How Treasure County residents earn a living
- Treasure County and the counties next door
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Treasure County
- Treasure County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Local borrowing considerations for Treasure County
- Debt-to-income at Treasure County's medians
- Checking a lender's license in Montana
- Before you sign
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Treasure County at a glance
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Treasure County's population at 732; only 54 of Montana's 56 county-level areas are larger. Land area is 978 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1 per square mile. No metropolitan area includes Treasure County in the 2023 federal delineation, so its numbers stand on their own rather than as part of a metro. Of the 1 Census place inside Treasure County, Hysham leads by population with about 251. With so few households sampled, Treasure County estimates can move a lot between releases.
Paychecks and income spread in Treasure County
At $67,917, the typical Treasure County household income is 3% above the median U.S. county ($65,681).
| Income band | Share in Treasure County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 29.4% | +6.9 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 49.7% | +6.9 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 13.9% | -11.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 6.9% | -2.1 pts |
About 29% of households earn under $35,000, while 21% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 12.3%, 1 point higher than the state's 11.5%. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.499 here. If your income is irregular, as it often is with tips, gig work or seasonal jobs, plan around your leaner months rather than the Treasure County median.
Housing costs in Treasure County
Renters in Treasure County pay a median of $850 a month, 21% below the Montana figure of $1,081. By the Census definition, 42% of Treasure County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $230,300, a typical Treasure County house costs 3.4 times what the median household earns in a year. 68% of Treasure County households own their home and 32% rent.
| Cost | Treasure County | Montana figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $850/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $230,300 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 42% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 32% | 30% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 16.3% | 9.4% | n/a |
How Treasure County residents earn a living
Agriculture, forestry and mining employs 42% of working residents, the largest share; education and health care is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 42% locally and 6% for Montana. The survey's unemployment rate for Treasure County averages 1.0% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 3.6%). Long commutes are the exception here: 11% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work. Only 7.5% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Industry (employed residents 16+) | Treasure County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 42.1% | +36.0 pts |
| Education and health care | 17.9% | -5.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 11.7% | +6.7 pts |
| Public administration | 7.7% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 7.1% | -4.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 5.9% | -4.0 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Treasure County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Treasure County and the counties next door
Rosebud County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Petroleum County, is 78 miles off. Income ranges from $49,914 in Rosebud County to $76,570 in Yellowstone County; 2 of these neighbors top Treasure County's median.
| Adjacent area | How far | HH income (median) | Rent (median) | Owner share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Treasure County | - | $67,917 | $850/mo | 68% |
| Rosebud County, MT | 29 mi | $49,914 | $672/mo | 64% |
| Yellowstone County, MT | 52 mi | $76,570 | $1,131/mo | 70% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 58 mi | $58,750 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 59 mi | $58,920 | $1,138/mo | 85% |
| Garfield County, MT | 73 mi | $69,583 | $725/mo | 72% |
| Petroleum County, MT | 78 mi | $60,208 | $800/mo | 73% |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Treasure County
Hysham is the only Census place mainly inside Treasure County, with about 251 of the county's 732 residents. Live in one of these Treasure County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hysham | town | 251 | $66,250 | $554 | 5 mi |
Treasure County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 37% of the adult population. 4.1% of residents have no health coverage.
| Treasure County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 52.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 37.5% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.0% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.1% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.5% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 25.1% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 12.3% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 1.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
Local borrowing considerations for Treasure County
A few patterns in the Treasure County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Mobile home upkeep. 16% of units fall in this category; roof, skirting and HVAC jobs are common reasons to borrow.
- Fixed incomes. Treasure County's median age is 52.0. Social Security and pensions count as income when documented.
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
Debt-to-income at Treasure County's medians
Treasure County at the medians, through a lender's eyes (what DTI means):
- $67,917 a year is $5,660 of gross monthly income
- Median rent: $850, or 15 cents of every gross dollar
- $1,188: what a 36% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- At 43%, room after rent is $1,584 a month
Lenders set their own limits and look beyond the ratio. The DTI calculator uses your figures instead of Treasure County's.
Checking a lender's license in Montana
Licensing happens at the state level, so a lender working with Treasure County borrowers answers to the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. See the Montana state guide for the statewide picture.
Before you sign
Steps that save money for Treasure County residents:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Ask a Treasure County credit union about member loans.
Related local guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Treasure County household make?
About $67,917 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 6% below the Montana median.
How does Treasure County rent compare with Montana?
$850 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 21% below.
I live in a small Treasure County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Hysham.
Are Treasure 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 Treasure 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.