Petroleum County, Montana Demographics 2026

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

Petroleum County, Montana has a population of 401, the 56th most populous county in Montana. The median household income is $59,318 and the median home value is $173,700. The poverty rate is 6.5%.

Petroleum County Quick Facts

Population 401

Median Household Income $59,318

Median Home Value $173,700

Poverty Rate 6.5%

Unemployment Rate 0.9%

Median Age 51.5 years

Homeownership Rate 77.0%

Affordability Ratio 2.9x

Bachelor's Degree+ 27.1%

High School Graduation 98.8%

Cities/Places 1

Population 401 56th of 56

Median Income $59,318 15% lower than state

Poverty Rate 6.5%

Unemployment 0.9%

Median Household Income

Petroleum

$59,318

$69,922

National

$78,538

Median Home Value

Petroleum

$173,700

$338,100

National

$303,400

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 15.5%

$25K-$50K 29.0%

$50K-$100K 25.0%

$100K+ 30.5%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

1.0%

$10K-$15K

4.5%

$15K-$20K

5.5%

$20K-$25K

4.5%

$25K-$30K

5.0%

$30K-$35K

4.5%

$35K-$40K

11.5%

$40K-$45K

5.5%

$45K-$50K

2.5%

$50K-$60K

7.0%

$60K-$75K

12.5%

$75K-$100K

5.5%

$100K-$125K

15.0%

$125K-$150K

5.5%

$150K-$200K

4.5%

$200K+

5.5%

Employment

0.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.8%|National: 5.2%

64.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 77.0%

Renter 23.0%

Affordability Index Very Affordable

2.9x home value to income ratio

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

13.2%

18-34

8.0%

35-54

34.9%

55-74

32.7%

75+

11.2%

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 Petroleum County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Winnett	173	$66,875	6.4%	$117,500

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

Petroleum County is located in Montana with a total population of 401. It is the 56th most populous county out of 56 in Montana. The county encompasses 1 Census-designated place.

Age Demographics

The median age in Petroleum County is 51.5 years. This is 28% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.2% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 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 Petroleum County is $59,318. This is 15% lower than the state median of $69,922. It is also 24% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 6.5%. This is 46% lower than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 0.9%. This is 76% lower than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $173,700. Housing costs are 49% lower than the state median of $338,100. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Petroleum County is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 77.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Petroleum County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 99.3% of all residents. Asian residents account for 0.8%.

Education

27.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 21% 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 98.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Petroleum 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Petroleum County, Montana?

Petroleum County has a population of 401, making it the 56th most populous county in Montana.

What is the median income in Petroleum County?

The median household income in Petroleum County is $59,318 with a poverty rate of 6.5%.

How many cities are in Petroleum County, Montana?

Petroleum County contains 1 Census-designated place.