County · Montana
Liberty County, Montana
Liberty County, Montana. Liberty County had 1,957 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, down 0.1% since 2020, while Montana grew 5.6%. It holds 6 places (1 city, village or borough and 5 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 30051.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,957
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,959 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,952
Median household income
$57,857
±$11,761 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$169,100
±$33,402 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$710
±$185 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
How many people live in Liberty County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,959 residents in Liberty County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,957 for July 1, 2025, down 0.1% since 2020, while Montana grew 5.6%. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,952 over 1,430 square miles of land.
| Measure | Liberty County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,952 | 1,116,875 | −399 |
| Households | 724±94 | 458,859 | −171 |
| Average household size | 2.52±0.31 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 837±89 | 528,419 | −292 |
Liberty County's population since 2000
From 2,158 in 2000 to 1,957 in 2025: down 9.3%. 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 Liberty County?
Liberty County holds 6 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 5 census-designated places. The largest is Chester with 844 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Chester | 847 | $53,750 |
|---|---|---|
| Eagle Creek ColonyGEOID 3022655 | 164 | not published |
| JoplinGEOID 3039775 | 159 | $67,891 |
| Riverview ColonyGEOID 3063266 | 100 | $2,500 or less |
| Sage Creek ColonyGEOID 3065160 | 81 | not published |
| WhitlashGEOID 3080275 | 4 | 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 Liberty County?
The median resident of Liberty County is 39.8 years old; 27.2% are under 18 and 21.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 93.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.1%. 2.9% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Liberty County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.8±3.1 | 40.4 | −6.7 |
| Under 18 years | 27.2%±2.9 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.6%±3.5 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 93.4%±1.6 pts | 83.6% | −4.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.4%±1.6 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.1%±1.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.9%±1.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 13.6%±7.8 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.4%±2.8 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 18.2%±4.0 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.4%±1.7 pts | 8.6% | −5.2 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 83.8%±6.9 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 27.8%±6.6 pts | 35.2% | +12.6 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 5.6%±2.7 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.4%±3.5 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 Liberty County earn?
Half of Liberty County's 724 households earn less than $57,857 a year (±$11,761), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $55,227 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 25.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Liberty County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,857±$11,761 | $72,509 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $84,368±$14,949 | $98,908 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,957±$6,997 | $41,711 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 25.8%±9.6 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 34.8%±19.4 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 6.5%±3.8 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 74.6%±7.7 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 Liberty County?
Owners occupy 63.4% of Liberty County's occupied homes and renters 36.6%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $169,100 by its owner (±$33,402). The median renter pays $710 a month including utilities, and 40.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Liberty County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $169,100±$33,402 | $375,800 | +$44,677 |
| Median gross rent | $710±$185 | $1,081 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 40.7%±15.1 pts | 35.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,380±$66 | $1,798 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.4%±6.3 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 837±89 | 528,419 | −292 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.5%±2.4 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0%±10.1 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 73.7%±6.5 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 8.5%±3.8 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±3.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 17.6%±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 do people in Liberty County get to work?
46.5% of Liberty County's workers drive alone and 26.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.5 minutes.
| Measure | Liberty County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 57.9%±6.3 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.6%±0.7 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 46.5%±7.2 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 11.8%±4.8 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±3.8 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 13.2%±5.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 26.5%±8.2 pts | 12.5% | +18.8 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.5 min±5.3 | 19.1 min | +6.3 min |
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 Liberty County's census tracts?
Liberty County is a single census tract.
| Tract 50130051050100 | 1,952 | $57,857 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Liberty County compare with Montana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 46th of 56 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 37th of 56 |
| Residents per square mile | 43rd of 56 |
| Median household income | 42nd of 56 |
| Median home value | 49th of 56 |
| Median gross rent | 42nd of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 3rd of 56 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 21st of 56 |
| Median age | 43rd 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 Liberty 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.