Montana · GEOID 30023

Deer Lodge County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 9,597 · 5,540 housing units

Median household income

$57,527

State $73,049

Median home value

$231,700

State $394,440

Median gross rent

$696

State $1,108

Homeownership rate

73.0%

State 69.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

34.3%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

24.6%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

0.7%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

4.0%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

19.3%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

4.03

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Deer Lodge County	Montana
Population	9,597	1,116,875
Population density (per sq. mi.)	13.03	—
Median household income	$57,527	$73,049
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$86,000	—
Households	4,473	—
Average household size	1.97 people	—
Owner-occupied	73.0%	69.2%
Renter-occupied	27.0%	30.8%
Race	89.8% 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

Deer Lodge County compared with Montana.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

24.1% 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	25.7%	$49,561	$1,239	$153,463
1 earner	28.9%	$64,196	$1,605	$207,940
2 earners	36.5%	$115,583	$2,890	$399,220
3+ earners	8.8%	$190,938	$4,773	$679,716

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

4,473

Average size: 1.97 people

Households with children

840

18.8% of households

Per-capita income

$35,979

Poverty rate: 17.1%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

73.0% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 79.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 12.3%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

78.7% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,954.00 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: $231,700.

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: $696.

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 1,067 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 5.0% · Seasonal 44.3% · Other 38.1%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

17.6% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 82.4% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

8.5%

473 units of 5,540 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

7.3%

406 units of 5,540 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$46,022

100% MHI$57,527

120% MHI$69,032

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Deer Lodge 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	$60,200	$68,800	$86,000
120% AMI	$72,250	$82,550	$103,200

HUD FMR Area: Deer Lodge 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

34.3% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (21.9% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

24.6% 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 Deer Lodge County.

Covered employment

3,204

Across 13 sectors

Establishments

265

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$51,523

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	1,342	$60,801	$195,302	−$36,398	$1,520
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	349	$18,276	$37,010	−$194,690	$457
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	348	$32,504	$89,971	−$141,729	$813
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	274	$66,304	$215,786	−$15,914	$1,658
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	241	$56,797	$180,398	−$51,302	$1,420
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	186	$49,970	$154,986	−$76,714	$1,249
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	150	$65,284	$211,990	−$19,710	$1,632
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	118	$55,194	$174,431	−$57,269	$1,380
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	69	$40,069	$118,131	−$113,569	$1,002
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	57	$20,898	$46,770	−$184,930	$522
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	34	$55,567	$175,820	−$55,880	$1,389
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	21	$33,248	$92,741	−$138,959	$831
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	15	$119,648	$414,351	+$182,651	$2,991

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 622 Hospitals NAICS 622	522	$41,130	$122,080	−$109,620	$1,028
NAICS 623 Nursing and residential care facilities NAICS 623	337	$45,457	$138,187	−$93,513	$1,136
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	332	$18,069	$36,239	−$195,461	$452
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	186	$49,970	$154,986	−$76,714	$1,249
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	165	$121,802	$422,369	+$190,669	$3,045
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	150	$48,789	$150,590	−$81,110	$1,220
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	128	$27,737	$72,227	−$159,473	$693
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	89	$72,472	$238,746	+$7,046	$1,812
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	76	$72,746	$239,766	+$8,066	$1,819
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	55	$55,380	$175,124	−$56,576	$1,385
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	52	$20,361	$44,771	−$186,929	$509
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	41	$52,408	$164,061	−$67,639	$1,310
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	28	$58,542	$186,894	−$44,806	$1,464
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	27	$53,604	$168,513	−$63,187	$1,340
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	20	$20,818	$46,472	−$185,228	$520
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	17	$27,195	$70,210	−$161,490	$680
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	17	$22,309	$52,022	−$179,678	$558
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	16	$63,202	$204,240	−$27,460	$1,580
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	15	$119,648	$414,351	+$182,651	$2,991
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	12	$58,205	$185,639	−$46,061	$1,455
NAICS 925 Administration of housing programs, urban planning, and community development NAICS 925	8	$52,206	$163,309	−$68,391	$1,305
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	7	$60,491	$194,149	−$37,551	$1,512
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	7	$108,852	$374,165	+$142,465	$2,721

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	750	(1,800)	(71%)	$13.45	$27,980	$73,132	$700
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	1,160	(1,530)	(57%)	$14.10	$29,320	$78,119	$733
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	1,140	(3,330)	(74%)	$15.24	$31,710	$87,016	$793
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	570	(1,530)	(73%)	$17.74	$36,900	$106,335	$923
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	670	(3,800)	(85%)	$17.93	$37,290	$107,787	$932
Tellers SOC 43-3071	160	(310)	(66%)	$18.49	$38,460	$112,142	$962
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	430	(1,440)	(77%)	$20.90	$43,470	$130,791	$1,087
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	680	(2,200)	(76%)	$22.25	$46,280	$141,250	$1,157
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	40	(170)	(81%)	$22.33	$46,440	$141,846	$1,161
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	110	—	—	$22.60	$47,000	$143,930	$1,175
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	500	(720)	(59%)	$22.80	$47,420	$145,494	$1,186
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	310	(570)	(65%)	$23.15	$48,160	$148,248	$1,204
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	350	(610)	(64%)	—	$58,280	$185,918	$1,457
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	710	(460)	(39%)	$28.10	$58,440	$186,514	$1,461
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	280	(1,270)	(82%)	$29.25	$60,840	$195,448	$1,521
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	130	(260)	(67%)	$30.33	$63,090	$203,823	$1,577
Electricians SOC 47-2111	200	(310)	(61%)	$32.72	$68,060	$222,323	$1,702
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	130	(430)	(77%)	$38.77	$80,630	$269,113	$2,016
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	770	(1,660)	(68%)	$43.63	$90,760	$306,820	$2,269

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: 30023 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.