Montana · GEOID 30005

Blaine County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 6,949 · 2,823 housing units

Median household income

$64,813

State $73,049

Median home value

$155,500

State $394,440

Median gross rent

$660

State $1,108

Homeownership rate

65.7%

State 69.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

28.5%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

18.8%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.8%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

6.4%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

19.2%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

2.40

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Blaine County	Montana
Population	6,949	1,116,875
Population density (per sq. mi.)	1.64	—
Median household income	$64,813	$73,049
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$87,800	—
Households	2,280	—
Average household size	2.96 people	—
Owner-occupied	65.7%	69.2%
Renter-occupied	34.3%	30.8%
Race	44.2% White · 0.4% Black	0.0% White · 0.0% Black

Source: ACS 5-year 2024 (Tables DP05, S1101, DP04, S1901) and Census Gazetteer (land area); HUD FY2026 Income Limits.

Racial composition

Blaine County compared with Montana.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

23.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (state: 35.2%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1501.

Median Household Income by Tenure

Owner-occupied vs. renter-occupied household income, county and state.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25119.

Median Household Income by Age of Householder

Median household income by age group of householder.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B19049.

Median Household Income by Number of Earners

Median household income for families with each earner count.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903.

Household Size

Distribution of households by number of people.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2501.

Income by Number of Earners

Earners	Share	Median income	Attainable monthly housing cost	Attainable home
0 earners	16.5%	$35,500	$888	$101,124
1 earner	32.0%	$53,125	$1,328	$166,730
2 earners	40.9%	$95,735	$2,393	$325,339
3+ earners	10.6%	$152,500	$3,813	$536,637

Attainable monthly housing cost = 30% of gross income ÷ 12. Attainable home price assumes 30% housing budget, 30-yr mortgage at 7%, 5% down.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S1903; affordability formula derived.

Households

2,280

Average size: 2.96 people

Households with children

661

29.0% of households

Per-capita income

$29,519

Poverty rate: 19.7%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

Housing stock characteristics — tenure, type, age, size, vacancy, rents.

Tenure

65.7% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 81.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 8.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

68.6% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,972.00 yrs.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2504.

Housing size mismatch

Compares the share of housing units by bedroom count against the share of households by size — a common diagnostic of housing supply/demand alignment.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Tables B25041 (bedrooms) and S2501 (household size).

Home value distribution

Owner-occupied homes by value bracket. Median: $155,500.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Monthly Housing Costs

Distribution of monthly housing costs across all occupied units.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25104.

Number of Bedrooms

Housing units by number of bedrooms.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25041.

Median rent by bedroom

Overall median gross rent: $660.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25031.

Renters by age

Number of renter householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Owners by age

Number of owner householders by age bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table S2502.

Vacancy composition

All 543 vacant units split into Census's seven categories. Frictional vacancy (units actively on the market) reflects healthy churn. Structural vacancy (seasonal, migrant, other) sits outside the market for year-round residents — high values change how the headline vacancy rate should be read.

Vacant units by type

For sale 2.2% · For rent 9.9% · Seasonal 13.3% · Other 70.0%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

16.8% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 83.2% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

2.6%

72 units of 2,823 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

13.5%

380 units of 2,823 total

⚑ Above the 5% threshold — possible indicator of disinvestment, abandonment, or condemned stock.

Section 3

Workforce Housing Needs Assessment

Affordability, cost burden, and the housing options for households in the workforce income range.

Workforce range — ACS median household income

80% MHI$51,850

100% MHI$64,813

120% MHI$77,776

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Blaine County should be able to afford a home up to roughly — (30% housing budget, default mortgage terms).

Workforce range — HUD Area Median Income

	1-person	2-person	4-person
80% AMI	$51,000	$58,250	$72,800
100% AMI	$61,460	$70,240	$87,800
120% AMI	$73,750	$84,300	$105,350

HUD FMR Area: Blaine County, MT. 80% AMI uses HUD's published Section 8 Low Income Limits; 100% is HUD MFI; 120% is the standard workforce convention.

Affordability calculator

Follows the standard 30%-of-gross-income affordability rule.

Income basis Household income Interest rate % Down payment % Taxes & insurance / yr

Affordable monthly—

Affordable home price—

Renter cost burden

28.5% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (14.4% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

18.8% of homeowners spend ≥30% of income on housing. Bars show counts of cost-burdened owners by income bracket.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25106.

Household income — owners vs renters

Distribution of household income for owner-occupied (navy) and renter-occupied (gold) households.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25118.

Section 4

Industry & Workforce Wages

Employment, average wages, and the housing each industry's typical earner can afford in Blaine County.

Covered employment

1,113

Across 16 sectors

Establishments

190

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$48,101

Employment-weighted across sectors

Top 10 sectors by employment

Annual average employment by NAICS 2-digit sector. Counties with fewer than five covered establishments in a sector may show suppressed totals.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024.

Attainable housing by industry

Industry	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	333	$50,643	$157,491	+$1,991	$1,266
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	186	$26,791	$68,706	−$86,794	$670
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	152	$54,704	$172,607	+$17,107	$1,368
NAICS 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	103	$105,592	$362,030	+$206,530	$2,640
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	67	$24,178	$58,979	−$96,521	$604
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	59	$36,128	$103,461	−$52,039	$903
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	45	$44,500	$134,625	−$20,875	$1,113
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	33	$43,566	$131,148	−$24,352	$1,089
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	33	$59,073	$188,870	+$33,370	$1,477
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	24	$15,826	$27,890	−$127,610	$396
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	16	$68,397	$223,577	+$68,077	$1,710
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	15	$44,317	$133,943	−$21,557	$1,108
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	15	$19,066	$39,951	−$115,549	$477
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	13	$36,586	$105,166	−$50,334	$915
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	13	$30,201	$81,399	−$74,101	$755
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	6	$10,629	$8,545	−$146,955	$266

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	333	$50,643	$157,491	+$1,991	$1,266
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	132	$51,473	$160,580	+$5,080	$1,287
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	103	$105,592	$362,030	+$206,530	$2,640
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	57	$23,008	$54,624	−$100,876	$575
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	46	$48,634	$150,013	−$5,487	$1,216
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	42	$35,722	$101,950	−$53,550	$893
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	33	$59,073	$188,870	+$33,370	$1,477
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	27	$55,484	$175,511	+$20,011	$1,387
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	27	$34,323	$96,742	−$58,758	$858
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	26	$35,563	$101,358	−$54,142	$889
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	25	$17,280	$33,303	−$122,197	$432
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	24	$52,458	$164,247	+$8,747	$1,311
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	22	$33,845	$94,963	−$60,537	$846
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	16	$62,870	$203,004	+$47,504	$1,572
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	16	$68,397	$223,577	+$68,077	$1,710
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	15	$44,317	$133,943	−$21,557	$1,108
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	15	$16,283	$29,591	−$125,909	$407
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	11	$52,937	$166,030	+$10,530	$1,323
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	6	$40,270	$118,879	−$36,621	$1,007
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	6	$10,629	$8,545	−$146,955	$266
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	6	$11,091	$10,265	−$145,235	$277
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	5	$139,336	$487,636	+$332,136	$3,483
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	5	$27,529	$71,453	−$84,047	$688

Affordable home price assumes the industry's average earner uses 30% of gross income for housing, with a 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr taxes & insurance, and 0.5% PMI. Adjust the Section 3 calculator for other terms. Affordable rent is 30% of monthly gross pay.

Source: BLS QCEW Annual Averages, 2024; ACS 5-year 2024 (median home value).

Section 5

Wages by Occupation

Selected essential-worker occupations for the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county — jobs, the 10-year change, wages, and the housing each typical earner can afford. Both jobs counts and wages are reported at the MSA / nonmetropolitan-area level (BLS does not publish OEWS at the county level), so every county inside the same area shows the same numbers. For county-accurate employment totals, see Section 4 above.

Occupational wages and affordable housing

Occupation	2025 jobs	2015–2025 change	% change	Hourly wage	Annual wage	Affordable home price	Affordable monthly rent
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	710	—	—	$13.09	$27,230	$70,340	$681
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023	1,400	—	—	$13.99	$29,110	$77,338	$728
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,920	—	—	$14.89	$30,980	$84,299	$775
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	240	—	—	$16.11	$33,520	$93,753	$838
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,220	—	—	$17.92	$37,270	$107,712	$932
Tellers SOC 43-3071	260	—	—	$18.48	$38,430	$112,030	$961
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	950	—	—	$18.58	$38,640	$112,812	$966
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131	760	—	—	$20.45	$42,540	$127,329	$1,064
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	1,310	—	—	$22.07	$45,900	$139,836	$1,148
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	910	—	—	$23.51	$48,890	$150,966	$1,222
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	210	—	—	$24.37	$50,680	$157,629	$1,267
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	500	—	—	$24.49	$50,930	$158,559	$1,273
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	1,280	—	—	—	$55,680	$176,240	$1,392
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,130	—	—	$28.22	$58,690	$187,445	$1,467
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	280	—	—	$28.47	$59,210	$189,380	$1,480
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	610	—	—	$30.51	$63,470	$205,237	$1,587
Electricians SOC 47-2111	240	—	—	$34.43	$71,620	$235,574	$1,791
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,260	—	—	$42.79	$89,010	$300,306	$2,225
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	90	—	—	$43.73	$90,950	$307,527	$2,274

Affordable home price uses the same Section 3 formula (30% housing budget, 30-year mortgage at 7%, 5% down, $2,500/yr T&I, 0.5% PMI). Affordable rent is 30% of monthly wages. Negative job-change values are shown in red parentheses. A "prior-year code differs" note flags occupations whose SOC code changed between the two vintages (2010 SOC → 2018 SOC) — the change estimate is best-effort.

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (10-year change vs. May 2015). Jobs counts and wages reflect the MSA or nonmetropolitan area containing this county, not the county alone — OEWS is not published at the county level.

Methodology & sources

All figures derive from the 2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. State and national comparisons are population-weighted aggregates of county-level estimates (an approximation; ACS publishes its own state and national medians which can differ slightly).

The affordability calculator uses a 30% housing-budget rule with a 30-year mortgage. Defaults are 7% interest, 5% down, $2,500/year taxes and insurance, and 0.5% PMI — adjustable above.

Variables: 30005 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.