Montana · GEOID 30013

Cascade County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 84,606 · 39,497 housing units

Median household income

$67,690

State $73,049

Median home value

$265,300

State $394,440

Median gross rent

$939

State $1,108

Homeownership rate

68.5%

State 69.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

44.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

19.5%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.6%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

3.9%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

9.8%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

3.92

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Cascade County	Montana
Population	84,606	1,116,875
Population density (per sq. mi.)	31.36	—
Median household income	$67,690	$73,049
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$89,000	—
Households	35,615	—
Average household size	2.30 people	—
Owner-occupied	68.5%	69.2%
Renter-occupied	31.5%	30.8%
Race	83.7% White · 1.3% 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

Cascade County compared with Montana.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

28.4% 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	15.9%	$58,653	$1,466	$187,307
1 earner	30.3%	$58,852	$1,471	$188,048
2 earners	45.4%	$106,938	$2,673	$367,040
3+ earners	8.4%	$149,668	$3,742	$526,096

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

35,615

Average size: 2.30 people

Households with children

8,573

24.1% of households

Per-capita income

$38,795

Poverty rate: 12.4%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

68.5% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 72.7% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 13.7%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

65.4% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,970.00 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: $265,300.

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: $939.

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 3,882 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 3.9% · For rent 11.9% · Seasonal 30.1% · Other 45.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

24.0% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 76.0% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

3.0%

1,169 units of 39,497 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

4.5%

1,781 units of 39,497 total

Census "Other vacant" — units off the market for reasons other than seasonal, migrant, sale, or rental.

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$54,152

100% MHI$67,690

120% MHI$81,228

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Cascade 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	$62,300	$71,200	$89,000
120% AMI	$74,750	$85,450	$106,800

HUD FMR Area: Great Falls, MT MSA. 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

44.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (19.3% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

19.5% 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 Cascade County.

Covered employment

36,510

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

3,199

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$55,416

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 62 Health care and social assistance NAICS 62	7,278	$62,594	$201,977	−$63,323	$1,565
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	4,866	$38,755	$113,240	−$152,060	$969
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	4,262	$23,633	$56,951	−$208,349	$591
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	2,721	$74,608	$246,697	−$18,603	$1,865
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	2,637	$72,635	$239,353	−$25,947	$1,816
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	2,450	$47,544	$145,955	−$119,345	$1,189
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	1,777	$50,491	$156,925	−$108,375	$1,262
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	1,588	$85,345	$286,664	+$21,364	$2,134
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	1,499	$71,563	$235,362	−$29,938	$1,789
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	1,343	$57,258	$182,114	−$83,186	$1,431
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	1,314	$79,497	$264,895	−$405	$1,987
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	1,299	$73,664	$243,183	−$22,117	$1,842
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	1,257	$40,060	$118,097	−$147,203	$1,002
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	874	$22,015	$50,928	−$214,372	$550
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	360	$84,912	$285,052	+$19,752	$2,123
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	356	$44,895	$136,095	−$129,205	$1,122
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	203	$65,681	$213,467	−$51,833	$1,642
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	202	$89,573	$302,402	+$37,102	$2,239
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	178	$49,139	$151,893	−$113,407	$1,228
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	28	$30,032	$80,770	−$184,530	$751
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	18	$34,540	$97,550	−$167,750	$864

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	3,548	$23,087	$54,918	−$210,382	$577
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	2,450	$47,544	$145,955	−$119,345	$1,189
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	2,367	$92,068	$311,689	+$46,389	$2,302
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	1,375	$66,462	$216,375	−$48,925	$1,662
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	1,314	$79,497	$264,895	−$405	$1,987
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	1,261	$33,229	$92,670	−$172,630	$831
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	1,253	$31,358	$85,706	−$179,594	$784
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	1,046	$62,131	$200,253	−$65,047	$1,553
NAICS 928 National security and international affairs NAICS 928	832	$80,707	$269,399	+$4,099	$2,018
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	817	$78,405	$260,831	−$4,469	$1,960
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	757	$75,865	$251,376	−$13,924	$1,897
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	748	$77,521	$257,540	−$7,760	$1,938
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	717	$20,688	$45,988	−$219,312	$517
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	715	$26,311	$66,919	−$198,381	$658
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	710	$33,654	$94,252	−$171,048	$841
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	660	$63,375	$204,884	−$60,416	$1,584
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	650	$59,562	$190,690	−$74,610	$1,489
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	598	$89,695	$302,856	+$37,556	$2,242
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	582	$31,245	$85,285	−$180,015	$781
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	527	$50,938	$158,589	−$106,711	$1,273
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	518	$70,103	$229,928	−$35,372	$1,753
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	483	$50,640	$157,480	−$107,820	$1,266
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	419	$33,835	$94,926	−$170,374	$846
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	406	$27,485	$71,289	−$194,011	$687
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	401	$49,259	$152,339	−$112,961	$1,231
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	375	$70,659	$231,997	−$33,303	$1,766
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	360	$84,912	$285,052	+$19,752	$2,123
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	337	$33,629	$94,159	−$171,141	$841
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	308	$59,219	$189,414	−$75,886	$1,480
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	261	$52,041	$162,695	−$102,605	$1,301
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	260	$79,756	$265,859	+$559	$1,994
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	252	$61,084	$196,356	−$68,944	$1,527
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	248	$39,214	$114,948	−$150,352	$980
NAICS 531 Real estate NAICS 531	237	$42,566	$127,426	−$137,874	$1,064
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	229	$69,426	$227,408	−$37,892	$1,736
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	221	$20,709	$46,066	−$219,234	$518
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	213	$97,447	$331,711	+$66,411	$2,436
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	212	$71,524	$235,217	−$30,083	$1,788
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	202	$89,573	$302,402	+$37,102	$2,239
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	196	$71,364	$234,622	−$30,678	$1,784
NAICS 711 Performing arts, spectator sports, and related industries NAICS 711	97	$22,260	$51,840	−$213,460	$557
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	91	$53,339	$167,526	−$97,774	$1,333
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	86	$76,216	$252,682	−$12,618	$1,905
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	71	$42,044	$125,483	−$139,817	$1,051
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	62	$86,593	$291,309	+$26,009	$2,165
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	60	$37,476	$108,479	−$156,821	$937
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	56	$47,087	$144,254	−$121,046	$1,177
NAICS 516 Broadcasting and content providers NAICS 516	55	$60,881	$195,600	−$69,700	$1,522
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	53	$57,792	$184,102	−$81,198	$1,445
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	46	$50,225	$155,935	−$109,365	$1,256
NAICS 327 Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing NAICS 327	42	$45,320	$137,677	−$127,623	$1,133
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	37	$50,970	$158,708	−$106,592	$1,274
NAICS 493 Warehousing and storage NAICS 493	37	$46,060	$140,431	−$124,869	$1,152
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	36	$70,972	$233,162	−$32,138	$1,774
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	31	$35,049	$99,445	−$165,855	$876
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	28	$49,884	$154,666	−$110,634	$1,247
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	28	$30,032	$80,770	−$184,530	$751
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	22	$63,113	$203,908	−$61,392	$1,578
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	19	$20,344	$44,708	−$220,592	$509
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	18	$57,080	$181,452	−$83,848	$1,427
NAICS 316 Leather and allied product manufacturing NAICS 316	12	$32,026	$88,192	−$177,108	$801
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	6	$36,544	$105,010	−$160,290	$914

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	450	(230)	(34%)	$13.47	$28,020	$73,280	$701
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,340	460	52%	$13.95	$29,020	$77,003	$726
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	760	(720)	(49%)	$15.28	$31,790	$87,314	$795
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	240	(90)	(27%)	$15.42	$32,070	$88,356	$802
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	1,130	(280)	(20%)	$17.31	$36,000	$102,985	$900
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	590	(70)	(11%)	$17.85	$37,120	$107,154	$928
Tellers SOC 43-3071	110	(60)	(35%)	$18.09	$37,620	$109,015	$941
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	360	(490)	(58%)	$20.43	$42,500	$127,180	$1,063
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	720	50	7%	$21.97	$45,700	$139,091	$1,143
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	370	0	0%	$23.87	$49,660	$153,832	$1,242
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	350	(10)	(3%)	$24.67	$51,320	$160,011	$1,283
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	310	(20)	(6%)	—	$55,390	$175,161	$1,385
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	510	150	42%	$26.71	$55,560	$175,794	$1,389
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	370	(30)	(8%)	$28.54	$59,370	$189,976	$1,484
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	70	0	0%	$29.26	$60,860	$195,522	$1,522
Electricians SOC 47-2111	170	20	13%	$35.47	$73,780	$243,615	$1,845
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	240	—	—	$37.12	$77,200	$256,345	$1,930
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	130	20	18%	$37.71	$78,430	$260,924	$1,961
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	880	(60)	(6%)	$39.75	$82,670	$276,706	$2,067

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: 30013 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.