City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Lame Deer, MT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Lame Deer - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

1,939
Residents
$26,364
Median income
$117,300
Median home
$1,186
Median rent (state)

Lame Deer - the verdict

Measured against every US city with at least 1,000 residents, Lame Deer lands in the 2nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
16th
percentile, home value
35th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Lame Deer, MT

Lame Deer is a small town in Montana, home to 1,939 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Lame Deer households earn a median of $26,364 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 44.0%. Lame Deer's housing stock carries a median value of $117,300, and the median resident age is 21.8 years. Educational attainment runs 11.1% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 32.0% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 3 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: the state registers 94.6 on a 100-equals-national-average index (Below Average) per BEA Regional Price Parities 2024. HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,186 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 49.7 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Low).

Population

1,939 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$26,364 /yr

Poverty 44.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Lame Deer compare to other US cities?

Lame Deer measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 16% pricier than other cities
Median rent 35% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Lame Deer against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Poverty Rate is Lame Deer's strongest outlier among Montana cities

Among the 315 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported poverty rate data, Lame Deer ranks #15 - the 95th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Lame Deer only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#274 of 282
3rd percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#256 of 317
18th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#244 of 279
13th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#15 of 315
95th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#272 of 317
14th percentile in Montana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Montana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

2ndIncome percentile

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Lame Deer's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$117,300 Among the most affordable more affordable than 84% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). This entry sits in this band. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Above this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Above this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Lame Deer $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Lame Deer, MT Lame Deer, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Lame Deer, MT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Lame Deer, MT median $26,364/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Lame Deer, MT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Lame Deer, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 11.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 44.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 32.0%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
1,939
Median Income
$26,364
Median Home Value
$117,300
Median Age
21.8
Poverty Rate
44.0%
Labor force participation
32.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
11.1%

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
88.1%
Carpool
3.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
3.2%
Work from Home
5.7%

Based on 402 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Montana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$175
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Montana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Montana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Lame Deer sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,186/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
49.7 / 100
Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Columbus
1,925 people
Ronan
1,962 people
Roundup
1,964 people
West Glendive
1,968 people
Malta
1,902 people
Eureka
2,009 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Lame Deer's 1,939 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Maple Park, IL
1,939 people
Paulina, LA
1,939 people
Jarales, NM
1,939 people
Siesta Shores, TX
1,939 people
Gate City, VA
1,939 people
Grove Hill, AL
1,940 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Lame Deer's $26,364 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Clarksville, TX
$26,364 median income
Vanceburg, KY
$26,369 median income
El Negro comunidad, PR
$26,354 median income
Frenchburg, KY
$26,375 median income
Anawalt, WV
$26,375 median income
Coffeeville, MS
$26,389 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Lame Deer, MT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Lame Deer, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 94.5% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1.0% White 2.3% Black or African American 0.4% Asian 0.0% American Indian 94.5% Native Hawaiian 0.1% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 2.7% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Lame Deer compares to nearby Montana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Lame Deer (this city) 1,939 $26,364
Columbus 1,925 $62,500
Ronan 1,962 $41,429
Roundup 1,964 $57,632
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Lame Deer, MT?

What is the population of Lame Deer, MT? +

1,939 people live in Lame Deer, MT according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Lame Deer, MT? +

Median annual household income in Lame Deer runs $26,364, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Lame Deer? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Lame Deer; the closest available measure is the Montana state average, a cost of living index of 94.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Montana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Lame Deer, MT? +

Homes in Lame Deer carry a median value of $117,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

Verify with HUD →

Verify with FBI →

Verify with NOAA →

Verify with U.S. Census Bureau →

Verify with EPA →

Verify with FEMA →

Verify with BEA →

Verify with EIA →

Verify with NCES →

Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.