Sanders County, Montana Demographics 2026

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

Sanders County, Montana has a population of 13,285, the 14th most populous county in Montana. The median household income is $57,476 and the median home value is $359,000. The poverty rate is 15.4%.

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

Sanders County Quick Facts

Population 13,285

Median Household Income $57,476

Median Home Value $359,000

Poverty Rate 15.4%

Unemployment Rate 5.9%

Median Age 54.6 years

Homeownership Rate 81.3%

Affordability Ratio 6.2x

Bachelor's Degree+ 21.5%

High School Graduation 91.7%

Cities/Places 13

Population 13,285 14th of 56

Median Income $57,476 21% lower than state

Poverty Rate 15.4%

Unemployment 5.9%

How Sanders 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	12,936	13,285	+2.7%
Median household income	$54,035	$57,476	+6.4%
Median home value	$323,800	$359,000	+10.9%

Median Household Income

Sanders

$57,476

$72,509

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Sanders

$359,000

$375,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 21.9%

$25K-$50K 20.4%

$50K-$100K 33.7%

$100K+ 23.9%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.6%

$10K-$15K

5.8%

$15K-$20K

4.7%

$20K-$25K

6.7%

$25K-$30K

4.3%

$30K-$35K

4.7%

$35K-$40K

3.1%

$40K-$45K

4.2%

$45K-$50K

4.2%

$50K-$60K

8.5%

$60K-$75K

10.7%

$75K-$100K

14.6%

$100K-$125K

11.3%

$125K-$150K

3.4%

$150K-$200K

5.7%

$200K+

3.6%

Employment

5.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

42.0% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 81.3%

Renter 18.7%

Affordability Index Expensive

6.2x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $820/mo 17.1% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

17.1%

18-34

13.6%

35-54

19.9%

55-74

36.8%

75+

12.7%

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 Sanders County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Thompson Falls	1,500	$46,313	6.5%	$266,400
Plains	1,195	$25,491	31.2%	$248,300
Hot Springs	557	$21,300	29.2%	$150,900
Heron	328	$29,207	59.8%	$433,300
Dixon	281	$48,333	28.5%	$234,400
Trout Creek	252	$64,853	0.0%	N/A
Noxon	209	$60,167	0.0%	$197,500
Weeksville	147	$64,333	0.0%	$782,300
Old Agency	129	$45,750	52.7%	N/A
Lonepine	122	$31,667	19.7%	$375,000
Paradise	76	N/A	0.0%	N/A
Camas	34	$23,750	32.4%	$115,600
Belknap	32	N/A	100.0%	N/A

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

Sanders County is located in Montana with a total population of 13,285. It is the 14th most populous county out of 56 in Montana. The county encompasses 13 Census-designated places.

Age Demographics

The median age in Sanders County is 54.6 years. This is 35% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. 12.7% 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 $57,476. This is 21% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 29% 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 5.9%. This is 64% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $359,000. Housing costs are 4% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.2x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 81.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Sanders County has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.5%.

Education

21.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 39% 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 91.7%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All figures for Sanders 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 Sanders County, Montana?

Sanders County has a population of 13,285, making it the 14th most populous county in Montana.

What is the median income in Sanders County?

The median household income in Sanders County is $57,476 with a poverty rate of 15.4%.

How many cities are in Sanders County, Montana?

Sanders County contains 13 Census-designated places.