County · Montana
Dawson County, Montana
Dawson County, Montana. Dawson County had 8,692 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 2.8% since 2020, while Montana grew 5.6%. It holds 5 places (2 cities, villages and boroughs and 3 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 30021.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
8,692
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 8,940 · ACS 2020-2024: 8,827
Median household income
$71,334
±$5,860 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$185,300
±$13,075 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$815
±$120 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
How many people live in Dawson County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 8,940 residents in Dawson County. The Census Bureau estimates 8,692 for July 1, 2025, down 2.8% since 2020, while Montana grew 5.6%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 8,827 over 2,372 square miles of land.
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,827 | 1,116,875 | −190 |
| Households | 3,615±215 | 458,859 | −315 |
| Average household size | 2.33±0.14 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,381±25 | 528,419 | −68 |
Dawson County's population since 2000
From 9,059 in 2000 to 8,692 in 2025: down 4.1%. 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 Dawson County?
Dawson County holds 5 places: 2 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 3 census-designated places. The largest is Glendive with 4,736 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Glendive | 4,873 | $72,670 |
|---|---|---|
| West Glendive | 1,998 | $54,922 |
| Richey | 164 | $73,750 |
| LindsayGEOID 3043750 | 12 | not published |
| BloomfieldGEOID 3007675 | 6 | $107,500 |
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 Dawson County?
The median resident of Dawson County is 43.0 years old; 21.4% are under 18 and 21.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 90.4%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 3.6%.
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0±1.7 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 21.4%±1.6 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.2%±0.3 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3.6% | 4.6% | +0.5 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 90.4%±0.9 pts | 83.6% | −1.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.3%±0.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4%±0.7 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 0.9%±0.7 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.1%±1.6 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 18.7%±3.9 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.6%±2.0 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 93.1%±2.1 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.8%±4.3 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 7.3%±2.4 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.1%±0.7 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 Dawson County earn?
Half of Dawson County's 3,615 households earn less than $71,334 a year (±$5,860), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $72,114 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $71,334±$5,860 | $72,509 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $87,555±$7,520 | $98,908 | – |
| Per capita income | $37,820±$3,441 | $41,711 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.7%±3.7 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.2%±6.3 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.5%±1.9 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.0%±4.6 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 Dawson County?
Owners occupy 71.9% of Dawson County's occupied homes and renters 28.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $185,300 by its owner (±$13,075). The median renter pays $815 a month including utilities, and 24.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $185,300±$13,075 | $375,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $815±$120 | $1,081 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 24.3%±8.7 pts | 35.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,491±$137 | $1,798 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 71.9%±5.4 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 4,381±25 | 528,419 | −68 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 2.7%±2.7 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.2%±0.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 71.2%±5.9 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 16.1%±3.9 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 16.1%±3.8 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 Dawson County building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Dawson County in 2025 (0 single-family), 0.0 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 Dawson County get to work?
84.4% of Dawson County's workers drive alone and 6.1% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 2.7%.
| Measure | Dawson County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.0%±3.6 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 2.7%±1.7 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 84.4%±3.9 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 4.8%±1.9 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 4.2%±2.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 6.1%±2.1 pts | 12.5% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.1 min±3.2 | 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 Dawson County's census tracts?
Dawson County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $65,490 (Tract 2) to $73,034 (Tract 3).
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Dawson County compare with Montana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 26th of 56 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 50th of 56 |
| Residents per square mile | 22nd of 56 |
| Median household income | 15th of 56 |
| Median home value | 44th of 56 |
| Median gross rent | 29th of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 45th of 56 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 44th of 56 |
| Median age | 34th 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 Dawson 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.