Montana · GEOID 30081

Ravalli County

2024 ACS 5-year estimates · population 46,727 · 21,179 housing units

Median household income

$71,283

State $73,049

Median home value

$476,600

State $394,440

Median gross rent

$1,054

State $1,108

Homeownership rate

79.4%

State 69.2%

Renter cost-burden rate

42.4%

≥30% of income

Owner cost-burden rate

21.9%

≥30% of income

Homeowner vacancy

1.1%

Of owner-occupied + for-sale units

Rental vacancy

7.1%

Of renter-occupied + for-rent units

Overall vacancy

11.9%

All housing units

Price-to-income ratio

6.69

Affordable: 2.0–3.0

Section 1

Community Profile

Population, demographics, household composition, and income.

Community Data Summary

	Ravalli County	Montana
Population	46,727	1,116,875
Population density (per sq. mi.)	19.54	—
Median household income	$71,283	$73,049
HUD Area Median Income (4-person, 100%)	$92,900	—
Households	18,661	—
Average household size	2.48 people	—
Owner-occupied	79.4%	69.2%
Renter-occupied	20.6%	30.8%
Race	89.9% 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

Ravalli County compared with Montana.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP05.

Educational attainment (population 25+)

28.7% 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	24.0%	$67,256	$1,681	$219,330
1 earner	28.5%	$77,381	$1,935	$257,019
2 earners	37.2%	$113,728	$2,843	$392,315
3+ earners	10.3%	$108,991	$2,725	$374,682

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

18,661

Average size: 2.48 people

Households with children

3,593

19.3% of households

Per-capita income

$39,624

Poverty rate: 8.0%

Section 2

Residential Market Analysis

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

Tenure

79.4% owner-occupied vs. state average 69.2%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table DP04.

Structure type

Single-family share 82.4% · Missing middle (2–19 units) 6.9%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25024.

Housing stock by decade

38.8% built before 1980 · Median structure age 1,991.00 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: $476,600.

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: $1,054.

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 2,518 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 6.4% · For rent 11.8% · Seasonal 46.1% · Other 30.5%.

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Frictional vs structural

23.5% of vacancy is frictional (for sale + for rent + rented/sold not yet occupied); 76.5% is structural (seasonal + migrant + other).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25004.

Seasonal / recreational share of all housing

5.5%

1,160 units of 21,179 total

Housing units held for seasonal or recreational use.

"Other vacant" share of all housing

3.6%

767 units of 21,179 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$57,026

100% MHI$71,283

120% MHI$85,540

County-wide median from ACS 5-year estimates. A household at 100% MHI in Ravalli 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	$52,050	$59,450	$74,300
100% AMI	$65,030	$74,320	$92,900
120% AMI	$78,050	$89,200	$111,500

HUD FMR Area: Ravalli 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

42.4% of renter households spend ≥30% of income on rent (17.1% spend ≥50%).

Source: ACS 5-year 2024, Table B25070.

Owner cost burden by income

21.9% 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 Ravalli County.

Covered employment

13,759

Across 21 sectors

Establishments

2,395

QCEW 2024

Avg annual pay (workforce)

$52,986

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	2,264	$65,820	$213,985	−$262,615	$1,646
NAICS 44-45 Retail trade NAICS 44-45	1,685	$34,352	$96,850	−$379,750	$859
NAICS 23 Construction NAICS 23	1,235	$54,185	$170,675	−$305,925	$1,355
NAICS 72 Accommodation and food services NAICS 72	1,233	$24,052	$58,510	−$418,090	$601
NAICS 61 Educational services NAICS 61	1,004	$43,314	$130,210	−$346,390	$1,083
NAICS 56 Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services NAICS 56	989	$43,395	$130,511	−$346,089	$1,085
NAICS 54 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 54	963	$90,496	$305,837	−$170,763	$2,262
NAICS 31-33 Manufacturing NAICS 31-33	842	$49,021	$151,453	−$325,147	$1,226
NAICS 92 Public administration NAICS 92	717	$72,253	$237,931	−$238,669	$1,806
NAICS 81 Other services (except public administration) NAICS 81	559	$35,797	$102,229	−$374,371	$895
NAICS 71 Arts, entertainment, and recreation NAICS 71	467	$41,127	$122,069	−$354,531	$1,028
NAICS 52 Finance and insurance NAICS 52	396	$70,810	$232,559	−$244,041	$1,770
NAICS 48-49 Transportation and warehousing NAICS 48-49	362	$52,700	$165,148	−$311,452	$1,318
NAICS 42 Wholesale trade NAICS 42	354	$79,646	$265,450	−$211,150	$1,991
NAICS 11 Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting NAICS 11	337	$51,115	$159,248	−$317,352	$1,278
NAICS 51 Information NAICS 51	118	$71,418	$234,823	−$241,777	$1,785
NAICS 53 Real estate and rental and leasing NAICS 53	85	$52,459	$164,251	−$312,349	$1,311
NAICS 22 Utilities NAICS 22	70	$93,114	$315,582	−$161,018	$2,328
NAICS 99 Unclassified NAICS 99	36	$60,843	$195,459	−$281,141	$1,521
NAICS 55 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 55	24	$116,663	$403,240	−$73,360	$2,917
NAICS 21 Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction NAICS 21	19	$146,088	$512,770	+$36,170	$3,652

Subsector	Employment	Avg annual wage	Affordable home price	vs. median value	Affordable monthly rent
NAICS 722 Food services and drinking places NAICS 722	1,037	$20,386	$44,864	−$431,736	$510
NAICS 611 Educational services NAICS 611	1,004	$43,314	$130,210	−$346,390	$1,083
NAICS 541 Professional, scientific, and technical services NAICS 541	963	$90,496	$305,837	−$170,763	$2,262
NAICS 621 Ambulatory health care services NAICS 621	962	$84,764	$284,501	−$192,099	$2,119
NAICS 561 Administrative and support services NAICS 561	932	$41,915	$125,002	−$351,598	$1,048
NAICS 238 Specialty trade contractors NAICS 238	784	$50,637	$157,469	−$319,131	$1,266
NAICS 445 Food and beverage retailers NAICS 445	631	$27,544	$71,509	−$405,091	$689
NAICS 713 Amusement, gambling, and recreation industries NAICS 713	429	$31,331	$85,605	−$390,995	$783
NAICS 624 Social assistance NAICS 624	416	$29,012	$76,973	−$399,627	$725
NAICS 236 Construction of buildings NAICS 236	382	$55,384	$175,139	−$301,461	$1,385
NAICS 924 Administration of environmental quality programs NAICS 924	334	$84,909	$285,041	−$191,559	$2,123
NAICS 921 Executive, legislative, and other general government support NAICS 921	307	$55,671	$176,207	−$300,393	$1,392
NAICS 423 Merchant wholesalers, durable goods NAICS 423	264	$71,290	$234,346	−$242,254	$1,782
NAICS 444 Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers NAICS 444	260	$39,936	$117,636	−$358,964	$998
NAICS 522 Credit intermediation and related activities NAICS 522	245	$65,213	$211,725	−$264,875	$1,630
NAICS 813 Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations NAICS 813	227	$28,054	$73,407	−$403,193	$701
NAICS 332 Fabricated metal product manufacturing NAICS 332	201	$58,279	$185,915	−$290,685	$1,457
NAICS 721 Accommodation NAICS 721	195	$43,676	$131,557	−$345,043	$1,092
NAICS 111 Crop production NAICS 111	170	$48,053	$147,850	−$328,750	$1,201
NAICS 441 Motor vehicle and parts dealers NAICS 441	170	$46,909	$143,592	−$333,008	$1,173
NAICS 456 Health and personal care retailers NAICS 456	164	$52,707	$165,174	−$311,426	$1,318
NAICS 811 Repair and maintenance NAICS 811	163	$49,230	$152,231	−$324,369	$1,231
NAICS 457 Gasoline stations and fuel dealers NAICS 457	156	$34,118	$95,979	−$380,621	$853
NAICS 321 Wood product manufacturing NAICS 321	149	$46,196	$140,938	−$335,662	$1,155
NAICS 484 Truck transportation NAICS 484	140	$50,657	$157,543	−$319,057	$1,266
NAICS 459 Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers NAICS 459	135	$19,838	$42,824	−$433,776	$496
NAICS 339 Miscellaneous manufacturing NAICS 339	133	$55,217	$174,517	−$302,083	$1,380
NAICS 524 Insurance carriers and related activities NAICS 524	119	$68,514	$224,013	−$252,587	$1,713
NAICS 812 Personal and laundry services NAICS 812	115	$31,202	$85,125	−$391,475	$780
NAICS 311 Food manufacturing NAICS 311	86	$29,338	$78,186	−$398,414	$733
NAICS 312 Beverage and tobacco product manufacturing NAICS 312	74	$21,860	$50,351	−$426,249	$547
NAICS 221 Utilities NAICS 221	70	$93,114	$315,582	−$161,018	$2,328
NAICS 455 General merchandise retailers NAICS 455	70	$31,565	$86,476	−$390,124	$789
NAICS 237 Heavy and civil engineering construction NAICS 237	69	$87,863	$296,036	−$180,564	$2,197
NAICS 488 Support activities for transportation NAICS 488	68	$54,233	$170,854	−$305,746	$1,356
NAICS 112 Animal production and aquaculture NAICS 112	67	$45,089	$136,817	−$339,783	$1,127
NAICS 491 Postal service NAICS 491	63	$72,492	$238,820	−$237,780	$1,812
NAICS 115 Support activities for agriculture and forestry NAICS 115	63	$72,404	$238,493	−$238,107	$1,810
NAICS 424 Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods NAICS 424	63	$119,016	$411,998	−$64,602	$2,975
NAICS 449 Furniture, home furnishings, electronics, and appliance retailers NAICS 449	59	$42,226	$126,160	−$350,440	$1,056
NAICS 562 Waste management and remediation services NAICS 562	57	$67,607	$220,637	−$255,963	$1,690
NAICS 517 Telecommunications NAICS 517	55	$77,130	$256,085	−$220,515	$1,928
NAICS 814 Private households NAICS 814	54	$37,585	$108,885	−$367,715	$940
NAICS 922 Justice, public order, and safety activities NAICS 922	51	$87,587	$295,009	−$181,591	$2,190
NAICS 458 Clothing, clothing accessories, shoe, and jewelry retailers NAICS 458	40	$19,990	$43,390	−$433,210	$500
NAICS 337 Furniture and related product manufacturing NAICS 337	38	$57,776	$184,042	−$292,558	$1,444
NAICS 113 Forestry and logging NAICS 113	36	$40,953	$121,421	−$355,179	$1,024
NAICS 999 Unclassified NAICS 999	36	$60,843	$195,459	−$281,141	$1,521
NAICS 492 Couriers and messengers NAICS 492	30	$41,065	$121,838	−$354,762	$1,027
NAICS 425 Wholesale trade agents and brokers NAICS 425	27	$69,490	$227,646	−$248,954	$1,737
NAICS 923 Administration of human resource programs NAICS 923	24	$76,617	$254,175	−$222,425	$1,915
NAICS 551 Management of companies and enterprises NAICS 551	24	$116,663	$403,240	−$73,360	$2,917
NAICS 519 Web search portals, libraries, archives, and other information services NAICS 519	19	$34,921	$98,968	−$377,632	$873
NAICS 333 Machinery manufacturing NAICS 333	19	$49,158	$151,963	−$324,637	$1,229
NAICS 518 Computing infrastructure providers, data processing, web hosting, and related services NAICS 518	17	$105,532	$361,806	−$114,794	$2,638
NAICS 323 Printing and related support activities NAICS 323	16	$34,275	$96,564	−$380,036	$857
NAICS 513 Publishing industries NAICS 513	15	$27,379	$70,894	−$405,706	$684
NAICS 485 Transit and ground passenger transportation NAICS 485	9	$17,457	$33,961	−$442,639	$436
NAICS 712 Museums, historical sites, and similar institutions NAICS 712	9	$20,725	$46,126	−$430,474	$518
NAICS 334 Computer and electronic product manufacturing NAICS 334	4	$138,625	$484,990	+$8,390	$3,466
NAICS 926 Administration of economic programs NAICS 926	2	$24,277	$59,348	−$417,252	$607

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
Fast Food and Counter Workers SOC 35-3023 · prior-year code differs	2,580	410	19%	$14.13	$29,380	$78,343	$735
Waiters and Waitresses SOC 35-3031	1,310	(150)	(10%)	$14.28	$29,690	$79,497	$742
Cashiers SOC 41-2011	2,370	40	2%	$15.78	$32,830	$91,185	$821
Childcare Workers SOC 39-9011	340	0	0%	$16.00	$33,280	$92,860	$832
Janitors and Cleaners SOC 37-2011	1,320	200	18%	$18.09	$37,630	$109,052	$941
Retail Salespersons SOC 41-2031	2,370	390	20%	$18.61	$38,700	$113,035	$968
Tellers SOC 43-3071	340	(120)	(26%)	$18.95	$39,410	$115,678	$985
Home Health and Personal Care Aides SOC 31-1131 · prior-year code differs	730	(110)	(13%)	$20.35	$42,320	$126,510	$1,058
Construction Laborers SOC 47-2061	890	340	62%	$23.78	$49,470	$153,125	$1,237
Firefighters SOC 33-2011	170	120	240%	$23.92	$49,750	$154,167	$1,244
Office Clerks, General SOC 43-9061	2,020	240	13%	$24.15	$50,220	$155,916	$1,256
Maintenance and Repair Workers, General SOC 49-9071	920	110	14%	$24.70	$51,370	$160,197	$1,284
Paramedics SOC 29-2043 · prior-year code differs	80	(70)	(47%)	$26.26	$54,620	$172,295	$1,366
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers SOC 53-3032	1,120	310	38%	$26.40	$54,900	$173,337	$1,373
Carpenters SOC 47-2031	870	160	23%	$26.81	$55,760	$176,538	$1,394
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021	950	(180)	(16%)	—	$56,110	$177,841	$1,403
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC 33-3051	410	180	78%	$32.13	$66,830	$217,744	$1,671
Electricians SOC 47-2111	600	310	107%	$32.39	$67,380	$219,792	$1,685
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters SOC 47-2152	260	30	13%	$34.00	$70,710	$232,187	$1,768
Registered Nurses SOC 29-1141	1,690	290	21%	$43.71	$90,930	$307,453	$2,273

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: 30081 · pulled from Full Housing Data Table.xlsx.