County · Montana

Petroleum County, Montana

Petroleum County, Montana. Petroleum County had 548 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 10.0% since 2020, faster than Montana (+5.6%). It holds 1 place (1 city, village or borough) and 1 census tract. GEOID 30069.

Residents, July 2025 estimate

548

Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 496 · ACS 2020-2024: 447 ±105

Median household income

$60,208

±$16,682 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509

Median home value

$201,400

±$49,436 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800

Median gross rent

$800

±$227 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081

How many people live in Petroleum County, and is it growing?

The 2020 Census counted 496 residents in Petroleum County. The Census Bureau estimates 548 for July 1, 2025, up 10.0% since 2020, faster than Montana (+5.6%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 447 over 1,656 square miles of land.

  • July 2020→2021 +18 (520)
  • 2021→2022 +1 (521)
  • 2022→2023 +27 (548)
  • 2023→2024 −10 (538)
  • 2024→2025 +10 (548)
Petroleum County in Montana. Boundaries: Census Bureau 2024.
Counts, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, with the change from 2015-2019
MeasurePetroleum CountyMontanaChange since 2015-2019
Total population447±1051,116,875no clear change
Households221±54458,859no clear change
Average household size2.02±0.292.37no clear change
Housing units311±61528,419no clear change

Petroleum County's population since 2000

From 493 in 2000 to 548 in 2025: up 11.2%. 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.

  • 2000 Census 493
  • 2005 (estimate) 492
  • 2010 Census 494
  • 2015 (estimate) 475
  • 2020 Census 496
  • 2025 (estimate) 548

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 Petroleum County?

Petroleum County holds 1 place: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place). The largest is Winnett with 205 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.

Places in Petroleum County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Ring: estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40%.
WinnettGEOID 3081100town188204±66$49,583$176,00010.8%100%

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 Petroleum County?

The median resident of Petroleum County is 51.6 years old; 14.8% are under 18 and 28.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 98.9%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 0.7%.

Age, origin and education, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates. Race groups are non-Hispanic; Hispanic includes any race.
MeasurePetroleum CountyMontanaChange since 2015-2019
Median age51.6±6.540.4no clear change
Under 18 years14.8%±6.1 pts21.0%–
65 years and over28.2%±8.7 pts20.1%–
Hispanic or Latino (any race)0.0%±6.5 pts4.6%–
White alone, not Hispanic98.9%±1.7 pts83.6%no clear change
Black or African American alone, not Hispanic0.0%±6.5 pts0.4%–
Asian alone, not Hispanic0.7%±1.2 pts0.8%–
American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic0.4%±1.1 pts5.3%–
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic0.0%±6.5 pts0.0%–
Two or more races, not Hispanic0.0%±6.5 pts4.7%–
Some other race alone, not Hispanic0.0%±6.5 pts0.5%–
Born outside the United States0.9%±1.7 pts2.3%–
Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+)0.0%±6.7 pts4.2%–
Civilian veterans (age 18+)16.3%±8.3 pts9.0%–
With a disability6.7%±4.3 pts14.5%–
No health insurance coverage6.7%±4.8 pts8.6%–
High school graduate or higher (age 25+)98.9%±1.4 pts94.6%–
Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)30.8%±9.7 pts35.2%no clear change
Graduate or professional degree (age 25+)10.6%±4.5 pts12.0%–
Moved from another state in the past year5.5%±5.5 pts3.7%–

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 Petroleum County earn?

Half of Petroleum County's 221 households earn less than $60,208 a year (±$16,682), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $63,073 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line.

Income and poverty in 2024 dollars, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasurePetroleum CountyMontanaChange since 2015-2019
Median household income$60,208±$16,682$72,509no clear change
Mean household income$78,436±$16,266$98,908–
Per capita income$39,919±$8,205$41,711no clear change
People below the poverty line8.1%±4.1 pts11.5%no clear change
Children under 18 below the poverty line3.0%±4.5 pts12.7%–
Households receiving SNAP0.5%±1.2 pts7.8%–
Households with a broadband subscription84.2%±8.8 pts89.4%–

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 Petroleum County?

Owners occupy 72.9% of Petroleum County's occupied homes and renters 27.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $201,400 by its owner (±$49,436). The median renter pays $800 a month including utilities.

Housing, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasurePetroleum CountyMontanaChange since 2015-2019
Median home value (owner-occupied)$201,400±$49,436$375,800no clear change
Median gross rent$800±$227$1,081no clear change
Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent0.0%±59.4 pts35.5%–
Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage$1,635±$257$1,798–
Owner-occupied homes72.9%±10.7 pts69.2%no clear change
Housing units311±61528,419no clear change
Homeowner vacancy rate0.0%±16.9 pts0.9%–
Rental vacancy rate0.0%±36.0 pts5.3%–
Single-family detached homes76.5%±8.3 pts68.8%–
Mobile homes21.2%±7.9 pts9.4%–
Built 2020 or later1.6%±1.7 pts2.3%–
Built 1939 or earlier16.7%±8.2 pts12.8%–

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 Petroleum County get to work?

49.8% of Petroleum County's workers drive alone. The average trip to work takes 16.2 minutes.

Work and commuting, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
MeasurePetroleum CountyMontanaChange since 2015-2019
In the labor force (age 16+)61.7%±8.6 pts62.9%–
Unemployment rate0.0%±12.0 pts3.6%–
Drove alone to work49.8%±11.8 pts71.1%–
Carpooled10.6%±6.6 pts9.7%–
Public transportation0.0%±12.0 pts0.6%–
Walked24.3%±11.2 pts3.9%–
Worked from home15.3%±12.3 pts12.5%–
Mean travel time to work16.2 min±5.619.1 minno 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 Petroleum County's census tracts?

Petroleum County is a single census tract.

Census tracts of Petroleum County, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates; sort by any column
Tract 130069000100Winnett (14%)496447±105$60,208$201,400$8008.1%

Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov

How does Petroleum County compare with Montana's other counties?

Petroleum County's rank among Montana's counties with a reliable estimate (1 = highest)
MeasureRank
Population56th of 56
Growth 2020-202511th of 56
Residents per square mile55th of 56
Median household income35th of 56
Median home value39th of 56
Median gross rent31st of 56
Poverty rate47th of 56
Bachelor's degree or higher16th of 56
Median age11th of 56

Every county in Montana

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 Petroleum 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.