County · Montana
Prairie County, Montana
Prairie County, Montana. Prairie County had 1,112 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.6% 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 30079.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
1,112
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,088 · ACS 2020-2024: 1,250 ±148
Median household income
$51,250
±$6,492 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$165,700
±$21,768 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$627
±$299 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
How many people live in Prairie County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 1,088 residents in Prairie County. The Census Bureau estimates 1,112 for July 1, 2025, up 1.6% since 2020, slower than Montana (+5.6%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 1,250 over 1,737 square miles of land.
| Measure | Prairie County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,250±148 | 1,116,875 | no clear change |
| Households | 545±69 | 458,859 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.24±0.21 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 687±69 | 528,419 | no clear change |
Prairie County's population since 2000
From 1,199 in 2000 to 1,112 in 2025: down 7.3%. 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 Prairie County?
Prairie County holds 2 places: 1 city, village or borough (an incorporated place) and 1 census-designated place. The largest is Terry with 574 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| TerryGEOID 3073675 | 562 | $48,125 |
|---|---|---|
| FallonGEOID 3025375 | 122 | $18,684 |
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 Prairie County?
The median resident of Prairie County is 57.8 years old; 17.0% are under 18 and 42.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 88.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of some other race at 4.3%.
| Measure | Prairie County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 57.8±16.6 | 40.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.0%±4.0 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 42.2%±7.9 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.6%±1.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 88.1%±6.1 pts | 83.6% | −9.7 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.7%±2.9 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±2.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.2%±4.3 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 4.3%±4.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.0%±3.8 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 1.1%±1.1 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 8.8%±4.3 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 14.3%±4.6 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.7%±2.3 pts | 8.6% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.5%±2.4 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 26.9%±8.5 pts | 35.2% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 11.8%±7.5 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.5%±1.8 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 Prairie County earn?
Half of Prairie County's 545 households earn less than $51,250 a year (±$6,492), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $53,689 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 20.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Prairie County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,250±$6,492 | $72,509 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $74,488±$13,927 | $98,908 | – |
| Per capita income | $35,904±$6,304 | $41,711 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 20.6%±7.9 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 10.3%±11.2 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 14.5%±7.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 78.2%±7.8 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 Prairie County?
Owners occupy 83.9% of Prairie County's occupied homes and renters 16.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $165,700 by its owner (±$21,768). The median renter pays $627 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Prairie County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $165,700±$21,768 | $375,800 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $627±$299 | $1,081 | – |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 36.6%±34.2 pts | 35.5% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,289±$302 | $1,798 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 83.9%±5.9 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 687±69 | 528,419 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.9%±2.8 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 6.4%±9.9 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 87.9%±6.2 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 11.1%±6.3 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0%±4.3 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 29.8%±8.0 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 Prairie County get to work?
49.6% of Prairie County's workers drive alone and 36.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 17.0 minutes.
| Measure | Prairie County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 52.3%±7.8 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 0.9%±1.6 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 49.6%±13.2 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.8%±5.7 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.2%±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 3.0%±2.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 36.4%±14.1 pts | 12.5% | +21.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 17.0 min±4.0 | 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 Prairie County's census tracts?
Prairie County is a single census tract.
| Tract 130079000100 | 1,250±148 | $51,250 |
|---|
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Prairie County compare with Montana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 51st of 56 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 33rd of 56 |
| Residents per square mile | 52nd of 56 |
| Median household income | 52nd of 56 |
| Median home value | 50th of 56 |
| Median gross rent | 49th of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 9th of 56 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24th of 56 |
| Median age | 2nd 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 Prairie 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.