County · Montana
Toole County, Montana
Toole County, Montana. Toole County had 5,211 residents in 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 4.8% since 2020, slower than Montana (+5.6%). It holds 7 places (3 cities, villages and boroughs and 4 census-designated) and 3 census tracts. GEOID 30101.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,211
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 4,971 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,061
Median household income
$57,731
±$7,284 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$218,400
±$34,702 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$826
±$162 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
How many people live in Toole County, and is it growing?
The 2020 Census counted 4,971 residents in Toole County. The Census Bureau estimates 5,211 for July 1, 2025, up 4.8% since 2020, slower than Montana (+5.6%). The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts the population at 5,061 over 1,915 square miles of land.
| Measure | Toole County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,061 | 1,116,875 | +169 |
| Households | 1,852±115 | 458,859 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.40±0.15 | 2.37 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,322±33 | 528,419 | no clear change |
Toole County's population since 2000
From 5,267 in 2000 to 5,211 in 2025: down 1.1%. 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 Toole County?
Toole County holds 7 places: 3 cities, villages and boroughs (incorporated places) and 4 census-designated places. The largest is Shelby with 3,313 residents (2025 estimate). Places that cross a county line are listed with the share of their 2020 residents who live in this county.
| Shelby | 3,169 | $58,413 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunburst | 333 | $65,938 |
| Camrose ColonyGEOID 3011999 | 184 | not published |
| KevinGEOID 3040525 | 154 | $38,333 |
| Rimrock ColonyGEOID 3062825 | 105 | not published |
| Sweet GrassGEOID 3073075 | 65 | $82,000 |
| Hillside ColonyGEOID 3036385 | 0 | 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 Toole County?
The median resident of Toole County is 37.7 years old; 21.1% are under 18 and 18.0% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 82.2%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 5.3%. 4.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Toole County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7±1.5 | 40.4 | −5.4 |
| Under 18 years | 21.1%±1.2 pts | 21.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.0%±1.1 pts | 20.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.4% | 4.6% | +0.4 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 82.2%±1.7 pts | 83.6% | −4.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.7%±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.2%±0.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 5.3%±1.3 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7%±1.9 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.6%±1.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.2%±1.2 pts | 2.3% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 5.2%±2.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 11.8%±2.5 pts | 9.0% | – |
| With a disability | 17.0%±4.0 pts | 14.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.3%±3.2 pts | 8.6% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 86.3%±4.0 pts | 94.6% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 22.5%±4.4 pts | 35.2% | +7.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 8.5%±2.8 pts | 12.0% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.4%±1.6 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 Toole County earn?
Half of Toole County's 1,852 households earn less than $57,731 a year (±$7,284), against $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $62,422 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 12.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Toole County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $57,731±$7,284 | $72,509 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $80,358±$7,293 | $98,908 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,252±$8,962 | $41,711 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 12.6%±4.7 pts | 11.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.6%±9.2 pts | 12.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.8%±3.3 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.1%±4.8 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 Toole County?
Owners occupy 63.1% of Toole County's occupied homes and renters 36.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $218,400 by its owner (±$34,702). The median renter pays $826 a month including utilities, and 32.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Toole County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $218,400±$34,702 | $375,800 | +$48,687 |
| Median gross rent | $826±$162 | $1,081 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.4%±11.9 pts | 35.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,378±$161 | $1,798 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 63.1%±6.8 pts | 69.2% | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,322±33 | 528,419 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±2.5 pts | 0.9% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1%±6.2 pts | 5.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 75.0%±4.9 pts | 68.8% | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.7%±3.3 pts | 9.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.1%±0.2 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 20.3%±4.3 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 many new homes is Toole County building?
Builders took permits for 0 new housing units across Toole 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 Toole County get to work?
70.2% of Toole County's workers drive alone and 10.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 15.5 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Toole County | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 56.5%±4.0 pts | 62.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9%±2.4 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 70.2%±4.7 pts | 71.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.5%±2.6 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 1.2%±1.1 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Walked | 9.4%±3.2 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.6%±3.4 pts | 12.5% | no clear change |
| Mean travel time to work | 15.5 min±2.5 | 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 Toole County's census tracts?
Toole County is divided into 3 census tracts. Among those with a reliable estimate, median household income runs from $54,456 (Tract 2) to $80,917 (Tract 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 Toole County compare with Montana's other counties?
| Measure | Rank |
|---|---|
| Population | 36th of 56 |
| Growth 2020-2025 | 22nd of 56 |
| Residents per square mile | 30th of 56 |
| Median household income | 43rd of 56 |
| Median home value | 33rd of 56 |
| Median gross rent | 25th of 56 |
| Poverty rate | 28th of 56 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 40th of 56 |
| Median age | 48th 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 Toole 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.