1st Advantage MortgageYellowstone County households have a median income of $76,570 and median rent of $1,131 a month (ACS 2020 to 2024). Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in Montana before sharing details.
On this page
- Yellowstone County, MT: the basics
- Household income in Yellowstone County
- How Yellowstone County residents earn a living
- Rent, home values and ownership in Yellowstone County
- Cities, towns and CDPs in Yellowstone County
- How Yellowstone County compares with nearby counties
- More Yellowstone County figures
- Before borrowing in Yellowstone County
- Debt-to-income at Yellowstone County's medians
- Steps before you apply in Yellowstone County
- Montana rules that apply in Yellowstone County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
Yellowstone County, MT: the basics
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Yellowstone County's population at 168,957, the largest in Montana. Packed into 2,633 square miles, that is close to 64 residents for every square mile of land. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Billings, MT metropolitan area. Billings is the biggest of its 13 Census places, at roughly 119,434 people (71% of the county total).
Household income in Yellowstone County
At $76,570, the typical Yellowstone County household income is 17% above the median U.S. county ($65,681). Only 6 Montana counties post a higher median.
| Yearly household income | Yellowstone County | Gap to Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 20.3% | -2.2 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 42.0% | -0.8 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 27.6% | +2.0 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.0% | +1.0 pts |
About 20% of households earn under $35,000, while 38% clear $100,000. The poverty rate is 9.2%, 2 points lower than the state's 11.5%. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.457 (0 is perfect equality). None of these numbers decides a Yellowstone County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
How Yellowstone County residents earn a living
By the Census industry count, 24% of employed Yellowstone County residents work in education and health care and 13% in retail trade. Averaged over the five survey years, 3.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking. 4% of commuters travel 45 minutes or more each way, and 9% work from home. Households without a car make up 4.3% of the total (4.7% statewide).
| Where residents work | Yellowstone County | Difference from Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 24.4% | +1.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 12.7% | +1.0 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 11.2% | +0.7 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -0.4 pts |
| Construction | 8.1% | -1.1 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 7.0% | +1.9 pts |
Industry shapes paperwork. Salaried and public jobs are easy to verify, while hourly, tipped, commission or contract earners in Yellowstone County should have bank statements and tax returns ready.
Rent, home values and ownership in Yellowstone County
A typical Yellowstone County rental runs $1,131 a month including utilities, which is 5% above Montana. 47% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 21% spend half or more. With a median value of $349,500, a typical Yellowstone County house costs 4.6 times what the median household earns in a year. The ownership rate is 70%.
| Yellowstone County | Montana | U.S. county median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,131/mo | $1,081/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $349,500 | $375,800 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 70% | 69% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 47% | 45% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 26% | 30% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 6% | 13% | n/a |
Cities, towns and CDPs in Yellowstone County
The table lists the 13 largest of 13 Census places in Yellowstone County, by population. Together all 13 hold about 135,921 people, so roughly 20% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $68,474 in Laurel to $75,700 in Lockwood. This guide covers each of the 13 places and the rural areas around them.
| Place in county | Status | Population (ACS) | Median HH income | Monthly rent | Distance from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | city | 119,434 | $73,712 | $1,138 | 17 mi |
| Laurel | city | 7,215 | $68,474 | $974 | 30 mi |
| Lockwood | CDP | 7,181 | $75,700 | $1,138 | 9 mi |
| Huntley | CDP | 455 | $94,821 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Worden | CDP | 416 | n/a | $886 | 6 mi |
| Shepherd | CDP | 353 | $80,125 | n/a | 3 mi |
| Ballantine | CDP | 262 | n/a | n/a | 7 mi |
| Custer | CDP | 199 | $82,500 | $425 | 37 mi |
| Broadview | town | 175 | $78,438 | n/a | 31 mi |
| Acton | CDP | 87 | $36,042 | $1,151 | 19 mi |
| Nibbe | CDP | 62 | n/a | n/a | 12 mi |
| Mountain View Colony | CDP | 55 | n/a | n/a | 23 mi |
| Pompeys Pillar | CDP | 27 | n/a | n/a | 16 mi |
A CDP is a named community without its own municipal government.
How Yellowstone County compares with nearby counties
Musselshell County is closest, 40 miles from center to center; the sixth, Carbon County, is 61 miles off. 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Yellowstone County; Stillwater County is highest at $84,732 and Golden Valley County lowest at $58,333.
| County | Miles | Median household income | Median rent | Homeownership |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County | - | $76,570 | $1,131/mo | 70% |
| Musselshell County, MT | 40 mi | $58,920 | $1,138/mo | 85% |
| Big Horn County, MT | 52 mi | $58,750 | $697/mo | 67% |
| Treasure County, MT | 52 mi | $67,917 | $850/mo | 68% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 53 mi | $58,333 | $783/mo | 81% |
| Stillwater County, MT | 57 mi | $84,732 | $961/mo | 83% |
| Carbon County, MT | 61 mi | $80,261 | $844/mo | 78% |
More Yellowstone County figures
College graduates make up 34% of the adult population. 7.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| People and households | Yellowstone County | Montana | Median county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.0 | 40.4 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 34.1% | 35.2% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 4.5% | 5.4% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 7.7% | 8.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 4.3% | 4.7% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 8.9% | 12.5% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 11.5% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 3.4% | 3.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Yellowstone County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 37.7% |
| 15 to 29 min | 47.5% |
| 30 to 44 min | 10.3% |
| 45 to 59 min | 1.4% |
| 60+ min | 3.1% |
Before borrowing in Yellowstone County
Where the Yellowstone County numbers stand out, and why it matters for a loan:
- Tight rental budgets. With 47% of Yellowstone County renters cost-burdened, test a new payment against a lean month.
- Check your file. An error fixed before you apply can change the offers a Yellowstone County borrower sees (free reports).
- Paperwork. ID, proof of income and a bank account are the basics (requirements).
Debt-to-income at Yellowstone County's medians
How much room does a median Yellowstone County budget have? Take median income, subtract median rent, and check what is left under a few common debt-to-income limits.
- Start: $6,381 gross per month ($76,570 / 12)
- Median rent: $1,131, or 18 cents of every gross dollar
- With a 35% ceiling, about $1,102 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
- At 45%, room after rent is $1,740 a month
Two-income households and single earners in Yellowstone County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Steps before you apply in Yellowstone County
Steps that save money for Yellowstone County residents:
- Size the loan to the bill, not to the most a lender offers.
- Ask each lender for the APR and all fees in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in Montana.
- Confirm the first due date before setting up autopay.
Montana rules that apply in Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County borrowers fall under statewide rules, enforced by the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. The Montana guide covers state rules in more detail.
Nearby and statewide guides
The Montana guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
Is Yellowstone County a high-income county?
Its $76,570 median ranks 7th of 56 Montana counties and compares with $65,681 for the median U.S. county.
How does Yellowstone County rent compare with Montana?
$1,131 locally versus $1,081 for the state, 5% above.
Which towns does the Yellowstone County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 13 Census places: Billings, Laurel, Lockwood, Huntley, Worden.
Will a Yellowstone County address affect my match?
Beyond confirming Montana as your state, no. Your answers about amount, credit, income and payments are all that count.
Is there a Yellowstone County office that licenses lenders?
No, licensing is statewide. In Montana it is the Montana Division of Banking and Financial Institutions.