Carlton, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 682, Carlton's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Carlton is a small community located in Montana, within Missoula County. The total population is 682. It ranks as the 132nd most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Carlton is 56.7 years. This is 40% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 1.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Carlton is $107,155. This is 48% higher than the state median of $72,509. It is also 33% higher than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 7.3%. This is 36% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Carlton, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $712,500. Housing costs are 90% higher than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.6x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Carlton has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 86.2% of all residents.

Education

41.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% higher than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample. Notably, 16.4% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Carlton, Montana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in Montana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.