Lincoln County, Montana Demographics 2026

Name: Lincoln County, Montana Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

Lincoln County, Montana has a population of 21,175, the 10th most populous county in Montana. The median household income is $47,143 and the median home value is $296,500. The poverty rate is 15.4%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Lincoln County Quick Facts

Population 21,175

Median Household Income $47,143

Median Home Value $296,500

Poverty Rate 15.4%

Unemployment Rate 5.1%

Median Age 52.8 years

Homeownership Rate 77.6%

Affordability Ratio 6.3x

Bachelor's Degree+ 18.9%

High School Graduation 90.5%

Cities/Places 13

Population 21,175 10th of 56

Median Income $47,143 35% lower than state

Poverty Rate 15.4%

Unemployment 5.1%

How Lincoln County Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric	2019–2023	2020–2024	Change
Population	20,656	21,175	+2.5%
Median household income	$47,018	$47,143	+0.3%
Median home value	$258,700	$296,500	+14.6%

Median Household Income

Lincoln

$47,143

$72,509

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Lincoln

$296,500

$375,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 23.3%

$25K-$50K 28.4%

$50K-$100K 27.2%

$100K+ 21.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

6.1%

$10K-$15K

6.1%

$15K-$20K

4.1%

$20K-$25K

7.1%

$25K-$30K

8.8%

$30K-$35K

4.0%

$35K-$40K

6.1%

$40K-$45K

5.3%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

7.8%

$60K-$75K

7.4%

$75K-$100K

12.0%

$100K-$125K

9.6%

$125K-$150K

3.7%

$150K-$200K

4.2%

$200K+

3.5%

Employment

5.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

43.7% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.6%

Renter 22.4%

Affordability Index Expensive

6.3x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $762/mo 19.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

18.1%

18-34

13.2%

35-54

21.9%

55-74

35.4%

75+

11.5%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 29 | National average: 61

Education

Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)

Cities & Places in Lincoln County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Libby	3,042	$34,143	24.0%	$257,400
Eureka	1,840	$38,750	31.3%	$172,000
White Haven	978	$41,154	25.2%	$205,300
Troy	871	$32,250	39.8%	$257,600
Pioneer Junction	798	$59,107	2.5%	$321,600
Trego	692	$108,750	3.9%	$328,800
West Kootenai	494	$93,869	0.0%	$270,000
Fortine	351	$66,402	18.8%	$325,900
Yaak	293	$60,000	19.6%	$380,800
Bull Lake	247	N/A	0.0%	$592,100
Happys Inn	229	$40,221	18.3%	$435,000
Sylvanite	145	$61,000	0.0%	$400,000
Rexford	134	$51,406	12.7%	$312,500

Explore Montana Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Population Overview

Lincoln County is located in Montana with a total population of 21,175. It is the 10th most populous county out of 56 in Montana. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Lincoln County is 52.8 years. This is 31% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. 11.5% 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 $47,143. This is 35% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 15.4%. This is 34% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 5.1%. This is 40% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $296,500. Housing costs are 21% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Lincoln County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.1%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 0.4%. The Asian population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

18.9% 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 46% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Lincoln County come from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates, 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Lincoln County, Montana?

Lincoln County has a population of 21,175, making it the 10th most populous county in Montana.

What is the median income in Lincoln County?

The median household income in Lincoln County is $47,143 with a poverty rate of 15.4%.

How many cities are in Lincoln County, Montana?

Lincoln County contains 13 Census-designated places.