Lincoln County, Montana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in Montana with a total population of 20,656. It is the 10th most populous county out of 56 in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 52.6 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 11.2% 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 Lincoln County is $47,018. This is 33% lower than the state median of $69,922. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 40% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.2%. This is 34% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 5.4%. This is 44% higher than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $258,700. Housing costs are 23% lower than the state median of $338,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.5x. 79.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% higher than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.8% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.0%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 0.5%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

18.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is among the lowest rates in the state, which may correlate with employment and income patterns. This is 48% 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 91.9%.