Pondera County, Montana Demographics 2026
Pondera County, Montana has a population of 6,012, the 33rd most populous county in Montana. The median household income is $53,500 and the median home value is $179,200. The poverty rate is 22.9%.
Pondera County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
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 Pondera County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conrad | 2,553 | $47,348 | 17.9% | $158,400 |
| Valier | 626 | $44,432 | 21.7% | $124,300 |
| Heart Butte | 504 | $28,977 | 46.7% | $48,800 |
| New Miami Colony | 309 | $2,499 | 68.6% | $230,000 |
| Dupuyer | 131 | $79,167 | 3.8% | $215,600 |
| Birch Creek Colony | 111 | $2,499 | 88.3% | N/A |
| Brady | 86 | $70,673 | 15.1% | N/A |
| Pondera Colony | 47 | N/A | 60.0% | N/A |
| Midway Colony | 30 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
| Kingsbury Colony | 9 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
Explore Montana Rankings
Population Overview
Pondera County is located in Montana with a total population of 6,012. It is the 33rd most populous county out of 56 in Montana. The county encompasses 10 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Pondera County is 41.2 years. This is 2% higher than the state median of 40.2 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Pondera County is $53,500. This is 23% lower than the state median of $69,922. It is also 32% lower than the national median of $78,538. The poverty rate stands at 22.9%. This is 90% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 6.5%. This is 72% higher than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $179,200. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $338,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.3x. 66.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 69.4%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Pondera County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 79.0% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.3%. The Black or African American population (0.0%) is well below the state average of 0.5%. The Asian population (0.3%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.
Education
19.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 44% 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 86.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All figures for Pondera 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 Pondera County, Montana?
Pondera County has a population of 6,012, making it the 33rd most populous county in Montana.
What is the median income in Pondera County?
The median household income in Pondera County is $53,500 with a poverty rate of 22.9%.
How many cities are in Pondera County, Montana?
Pondera County contains 10 Census-designated places.