City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Medicine Lake, MT

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

190
Residents
$41,000
Median income
$95,000
Median home
$1,211
Median rent (state)

Medicine Lake - the verdict

Medicine Lake ranks in the 9th percentile for household income nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS.

9th
percentile, household income
8th
percentile, home value
37th
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: Medicine Lake, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 190 residents in Medicine Lake, a small town within Montana. Medicine Lake households earn a median of $41,000 annually, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 4.8%. Medicine Lake's housing stock carries a median value of $95,000, and the median resident age is 49.8 years. About 21.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 69.2% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 0 residential units authorized here in 2024 (No Permits). The annual average temperature per NOAA climate normals runs 41.0°F with 14.1 inches of precipitation per year.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,211 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Montana's average monthly utility costs around $175 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 15.1 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

190 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$41,000 /yr

Poverty 4.8%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Medicine Lake compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 9% higher than other cities
Home value 8% pricier than other cities
Median rent 37% 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 Medicine Lake against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Median Home Value places Medicine Lake near the bottom of Montana's cities

Among the 279 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median home value data, Medicine Lake ranks #257 - the 8th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Medicine Lake only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#243 of 282
14th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#244 of 317
22nd percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#257 of 279
8th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#187 of 315
41st percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#165 of 317
48th 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.

9thIncome percentile

9th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Medicine Lake's home value compares nationally

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

$95,000 Among the most affordable more affordable than 92% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Above this entry. $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. Medicine Lake $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 - Medicine Lake, MT Medicine Lake, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Medicine Lake, 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 Medicine Lake, MT median $41,000/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%
Medicine Lake, 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 Medicine Lake, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.8%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 69.2%

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

Population
190
Median Income
$41,000
Median Home Value
$95,000
Median Age
49.8
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Labor force participation
69.2%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.6%

Climate

Avg Temperature
41.0°F
Annual Precipitation
14.1"
Annual Snowfall
N/A

Schools

Total Schools
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
240 residents245 residents250 residents 202020212022202320242025 245 residents 241 residents ▼ -1.6%
Medicine Lake's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

Total Permits (2024)
0
housing units authorized
Single-Family
0
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 0
2020 0
2021 1
2022 0
2023 0
2024 0

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
66.1%
Carpool
17.4%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
10.4%
Work from Home
4.3%
Other
1.8%

Based on 115 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 Medicine Lake sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,211/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
15.1 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Fort Shaw
190 people
Gallatin River Ranch
191 people
Noxon
193 people
Power
194 people
Bull Lake
185 people
Crane
185 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Medicine Lake's 190 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bellamy, AL
190 people
Minto, AK
190 people
Elgin, AZ
190 people
Sehili, AZ
190 people
Gillham, AR
190 people
Montrose, AR
190 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Medicine Lake's $41,000 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Brantleyville, AL
$41,000 median income
Cantwell, AK
$41,000 median income
Hillman, MI
$41,000 median income
Wheeling, MO
$41,000 median income
Kinta, OK
$41,000 median income
Weston, OR
$41,000 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Medicine Lake, 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 Medicine Lake, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.0% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 8.9% White 90.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.0% American Indian 6.3% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 3.7% 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 Medicine Lake 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
Medicine Lake (this city) 190 $41,000
Fort Shaw 190 $77,941
Gallatin River Ranch 191 $250,001
Noxon 193 $71,500
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT NOAA Normals NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Medicine Lake, MT?

What is the population of Medicine Lake, MT? +

Medicine Lake, MT counts 190 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Medicine Lake, MT? +

In Medicine Lake, the typical household earns $41,000 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Medicine Lake? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Medicine Lake; 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 Medicine Lake, MT? +

A typical home in Medicine Lake is worth $95,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the climate like in Medicine Lake? +

Climate normals put Medicine Lake's yearly average temperature at 41.0°F, 14.1 inches of precipitation. Source: NOAA Climate Normals.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, 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

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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.