Garfield County, Montana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Garfield County is located in Montana with a total population of 938. It is the 53rd most populous county out of 56 in Montana. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Garfield County is 43.9 years. This is 9% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 12.4% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Garfield County is $61,750. This is 12% lower than the state median of $69,922. It is also 21% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 12.2%. This is 1% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.0%. This is 100% lower than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $178,300. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $338,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Garfield County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 70.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 1% higher than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Garfield County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 97.8% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.0%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (1.0% vs 0.5%).

Education

21.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 96.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Garfield County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023), with comparisons drawn against Montana and national averages from the same dataset. See our methodology page for how each metric is defined, or data.census.gov for official tables with margins of error.