Pondera County, Montana Demographics 2026

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.

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. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 32% lower. 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%.