County · Montana
Carter County, Montana
Carter County, Montana. Carter County had 1,383 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.1% since 2020, while Montana grew 5.6%. It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 30011.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,383
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,415 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,308 ±136
Median household income
$54,167
±$12,202 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$199,200
±$43,304 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$824
±$70 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
How many people live in Carter County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,415 residents in Carter County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,383 for July 1, 2025, down 2.1% since 2020, while Montana grew 5.6%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,308 over 3,340 square miles of land.
| Measure | Carter County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,308±136 | 1,116,875 | no clear change |
| Households | 600±63 | 458,859 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.14±0.21 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 829±57 | 528,419 | no clear change |
Carter County's population since 2000
From 1,360 in 2000 to 1,383 in 2025: up 1.7%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025); 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What cities and towns are in Carter County?
Carter County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Ekalaka with 398 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Ekalaka | 399 | $30,000 |
|---|---|---|
| AlzadaGEOID 3001300 | 25 | not published |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 place-by-county parts · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Carter County?
The median resident of Carter County is 56.9 years old; 17.7% are under 18 and 31.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 8.3%.
| Measure | Carter County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 56.9±3.0 | 40.4 | +9.1 |
| Under 18 years | 17.7%±4.2 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 31.1%±5.1 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.4%±2.3 pts | 4.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.9%±4.0 pts | 83.6% | −7.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 8.3%±4.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.4%±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.3%±0.5 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.9%±4.1 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 17.4%±4.2 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5%±3.7 pts | 8.6% | −12.9 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.7%±3.7 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 20.7%±4.2 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.0%±2.2 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.9%±1.2 pts | 3.7% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Carter County earn?
Half of Carter County's 600 households earn less than $54,167 a year (±$12,202), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $59,073 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 15.4% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Carter County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $54,167±$12,202 | $72,509 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $67,789±$8,122 | $98,908 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,342±$3,351 | $41,711 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 15.4%±5.7 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.6%±11.6 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.3%±3.5 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.5%±6.2 pts | 89.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Carter County?
Owners occupy 62.2% of Carter County's occupied homes and renters 37.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $199,200 by its owner (±$43,304). The median renter pays $824 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Carter County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $199,200±$43,304 | $375,800 | +$62,716 |
| Median gross rent | $824±$70 | $1,081 | +$113 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 14.5%±17.5 pts | 35.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,125±$1,071 | $1,798 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 62.2%±7.6 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 829±57 | 528,419 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.1%±4.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.8%±8.0 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 67.7%±6.2 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 29.0%±6.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2%±0.4 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 14.5%±5.3 pts | 12.8% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Carter County building?
Builders took permits for 5 new housing units across Carter County in 2025 (3 single-family), 3.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Carter County get to work?
46.8% of Carter County's workers drive alone and 39.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.5 minutes.
| Measure | Carter County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.3%±5.0 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8%±3.7 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 46.8%±8.1 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 3.7%±2.7 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.7%±0.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 5.2%±2.5 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 39.5%±8.1 pts | 12.5% | +17.2 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.5 min±3.9 | 19.1 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What are Carter County's census tracts?
Carter County is a single census tract.
| Tract 330011000300 | 1,308±136 | $54,167 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Carter County compare with Montana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 50th of 56 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 45th of 56 |
| Residents per square mile | 54th of 56 |
| Median household income | 48th of 56 |
| Median home value | 40th of 56 |
| Median gross rent | 26th of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 16th of 56 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50th of 56 |
| Median age | 3rd of 56 |
Source: PlainCities ranks from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Carter County are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.