1st Advantage MortgageIn Valley County, Montana, the typical household earns $71,695 a year and the typical rent is $767. 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
- Valley County at a glance
- Income in Valley County compared with Montana
- Housing costs in Valley County
- Work, industries and travel time in Valley County
- Valley County next to its neighbors
- Places inside Valley County
- Budget math at the Valley County median
- Local borrowing considerations for Valley County
- People and households in Valley County
- Licensing and complaints for Valley County
- Four steps for Valley County borrowers
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Valley County at a glance
Valley County is home to about 7,519 people, according to the Census Bureau's 2020 to 2024 American Community Survey, which makes it the 29th most populous of 56 county-level areas in Montana. Spread over 4,926 square miles, that works out to roughly 1.5 residents per square mile. Under the July 2023 OMB definitions, Valley County is not part of any metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 7 places in the county (4 incorporated, 3 census-designated); the largest is Glasgow, with about 3,190 residents, or 42% of the county. Because Valley County is small, the survey's margins of error are wide; treat the numbers as approximate.
Income in Valley County compared with Montana
Valley County households have a median income of $71,695 (ACS 2020 to 2024), which ranks 14th of 56 in Montana.
| Household income | Valley County | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.1% | -2.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 50.3% | +7.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.4% | -0.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 4.3% | -4.8 pts |
Some 20% of households here live on less than $35,000 a year; 30% have six-figure incomes. The poverty rate is 10.1%, 1 point lower than the state's 11.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.376 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $71,695 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Valley County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $767 in Valley County versus $1,081 statewide. Rent takes 30% or more of income for 43% of renter households here. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $198,400, about 2.8 times the median household income. 78% of Valley County households own their home and 22% rent. Median construction year: 1966.
| Home costs | Valley County | Montana | U.S. middle county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $767/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $198,400 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 78% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 43% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 21% | 30% | 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).
Work, industries and travel time in Valley County
The biggest employer of Valley County residents, by industry, is education and health care at 24% of workers, followed by agriculture, forestry and mining (15%). Compared with Montana, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (15% against 6%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 3.0% in Valley County. About 69% drive to work alone and 11% have trips of 45 minutes or more.
| Industry | Share of Valley County workers | vs Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.3% | +1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 14.9% | +8.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.4% | -1.3 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 10.0% | +4.9 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.9% | -1.6 pts |
| Public administration | 6.6% | +0.8 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
Valley County next to its neighbors
Six nearby counties, 58 to 101 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. Income ranges from $53,417 in Phillips County to $70,147 in Sheridan County; none of these neighbors top Valley County's median.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Valley County | - | $71,695 | $767/mo | 78% |
| Phillips County, MT | 58 mi | $53,417 | $536/mo | 74% |
| Daniels County, MT | 60 mi | $55,625 | $581/mo | 83% |
| McCone County, MT | 65 mi | $69,375 | $556/mo | 90% |
| Garfield County, MT | 76 mi | $69,583 | $725/mo | 72% |
| Roosevelt County, MT | 77 mi | $57,063 | $705/mo | 67% |
| Sheridan County, MT | 101 mi | $70,147 | $746/mo | 72% |
Places inside Valley County
Here are the 7 most populous of the county's 7 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 63% of Valley County residents live in one of the 7. Live in one of these Valley County communities, or between them? This is your local guide.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | city | 3,190 | $90,310 | $805 | 11 mi |
| Frazer | CDP | 387 | $32,500 | $344 | 35 mi |
| St. Marie | CDP | 306 | $38,971 | n/a | 9 mi |
| Fort Peck | town | 280 | $90,833 | n/a | 26 mi |
| Nashua | town | 279 | $80,313 | $800 | 21 mi |
| Hinsdale | CDP | 233 | $47,500 | $573 | 19 mi |
| Opheim | town | 86 | $46,500 | n/a | 37 mi |
Budget math at the Valley County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Valley County's medians:
- Start: $5,975 gross per month ($71,695 / 12)
- 13% goes to median rent ($767)
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,384 a month
If your rent is above $767, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Local borrowing considerations for Valley County
A few patterns in the Valley County data, and the practical point behind each:
- Requirements. Lenders weigh credit history, documented income and existing debt (what to gather).
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
- Fraud. Gift cards, wire transfers or fees to unlock a loan mean walk away (report it).
People and households in Valley County
Degree holders: 26% of adults over 25. 6.4% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | Valley County | Montana | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.3 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 25.7% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 5.3% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.4% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.8% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 15.9% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 10.1% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.0% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 64.1% |
| 15 to 29 min | 18.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 7.1% |
| 45 to 59 min | 5.2% |
| 60+ min | 5.4% |
Licensing and complaints for Valley County
Before sharing details with a lender, a Valley County resident can confirm its license with the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. A CFPB complaint gets forwarded to the company for a response. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Four steps for Valley County borrowers
Before you apply, wherever you live in Valley County:
- Write down what the expense costs; a smaller loan costs less.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Verify the Montana license before giving out your Social Security number.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median household income in Valley County?
$71,695 a year in the 2020 to 2024 Census survey, versus $72,509 for Montana. It ranks 14th of 56 in the state.
What do renters pay in Valley County?
$767 a month at the median, about 13% of median household income.
I live in a small Valley County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Glasgow, Frazer, St. Marie, Fort Peck, Nashua and 2 more.
Are Valley 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 Valley 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.