County · Montana
Powder River County, Montana
Powder River County, Montana. Powder River County had 1,781 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.1% since 2020, slower than Montana (+5.6%). It holds 2 places (1 city, village or borough and 1 census-designated) and 1 census tract. GEOID 30075.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,781
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,694 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,815 ±136
Median household income
$67,045
±$14,071 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$192,100
±$44,516 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$533
±$80 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
How many people live in Powder River County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,694 residents in Powder River County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,781 for July 1, 2025, up 5.1% since 2020, slower than Montana (+5.6%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,815 over 3,298 square miles of land.
| Measure | Powder River County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,815±136 | 1,116,875 | +208 |
| Households | 708±69 | 458,859 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.48±0.19 | 2.37 | +0.36 |
| Housing units | 972±58 | 528,419 | no clear change |
Powder River County's population since 2000
From 1,858 in 2000 to 1,781 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 Powder River County?
Powder River County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Broadus with 477 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| BroadusGEOID 3009700 | 456 | $60,000 |
|---|---|---|
| BiddleGEOID 3005650 | 28 | 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 Powder River County?
The median resident of Powder River County is 47.3 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 30.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 89.2%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.5%.
| Measure | Powder River County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.3±4.6 | 40.4 | −6.1 |
| Under 18 years | 20.1%±2.5 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 30.0%±3.7 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1.4%±1.3 pts | 4.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 89.2%±3.7 pts | 83.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.9%±0.8 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 2.2%±1.8 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±1.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.5%±3.6 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.8%±0.9 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 1.4%±1.0 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.4%±1.3 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 5.3%±2.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 13.7%±3.3 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.6%±2.6 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.6%±4.4 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.1%±5.2 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.9%±3.7 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.5%±2.6 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 Powder River County earn?
Half of Powder River County's 708 households earn less than $67,045 a year (±$14,071), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $66,983 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Powder River County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $67,045±$14,071 | $72,509 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $95,150±$13,418 | $98,908 | – |
| Per capita income | $40,845±$5,526 | $41,711 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.1%±2.8 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 5.8%±5.6 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.4%±2.9 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.0%±6.4 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 Powder River County?
Owners occupy 78.8% of Powder River County's occupied homes and renters 21.2%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $192,100 by its owner (±$44,516). The median renter pays $533 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Powder River County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $192,100±$44,516 | $375,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $533±$80 | $1,081 | −$276 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 9.0%±8.6 pts | 35.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,464±$314 | $1,798 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 78.8%±5.3 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 972±58 | 528,419 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 5.1%±4.3 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.7%±7.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 78.1%±5.0 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 19.2%±4.5 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1%±1.5 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 11.8%±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 do people in Powder River County get to work?
51.1% of Powder River County's workers drive alone and 19.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.4 minutes.
| Measure | Powder River County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.5%±5.3 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.7%±0.9 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 51.1%±6.7 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.5%±4.9 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.0%±1.4 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 9.5%±5.0 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.6%±6.4 pts | 12.5% | +12.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.4 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 Powder River County's census tracts?
Powder River County is a single census tract.
| Tract 130075000100 | 1,815±136 | $67,045 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Powder River County compare with Montana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 47th of 56 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 21st of 56 |
| Residents per square mile | 53rd of 56 |
| Median household income | 27th of 56 |
| Median home value | 43rd of 56 |
| Median gross rent | 55th of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 47th of 56 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 27th of 56 |
| Median age | 18th 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 Powder River 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.