Sanders County, Montana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Sanders County is located in Montana with a total population of 12,936. It is the 15th most populous county out of 56 in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sanders County is 54.6 years. This is 36% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 12.3% 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 Sanders County is $54,035. This is 23% lower than the state median of $69,922. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 31% lower. The poverty rate stands at 15.1%. This is 25% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 4.2%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $323,800. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $338,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 6.0x. 80.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 15% higher than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sanders County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.3%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

21.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 38% 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 92.2%.