Sunburst, Montana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Sunburst, Montana had a total population of 301, the 204th largest town in Montana, with a median household income of $65,938, which is 9% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.6%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x.
- Unemployment rate of 15.7% is notably above the national average.
Sunburst Quick Facts
How Sunburst 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 | 386 | 301 | -22.0% |
| Median household income | $80,938 | $65,938 | -18.5% |
| Median home value | $135,600 | $139,600 | +2.9% |
How Sunburst Compares
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+)
Sunburst Rankings in Montana
Explore Montana Rankings
Other Cities in Toole County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | 3,216 | $58,413 | 13.8% | $232,700 |
| Hillside Colony | 245 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
| Camrose Colony | 126 | N/A | 71.4% | N/A |
| Kevin | 108 | $38,333 | 32.4% | $65,000 |
| Sweet Grass | 70 | $82,000 | 0.0% | N/A |
| Rimrock Colony | 39 | N/A | 0.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Sunburst
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parker School | 307 | N/A | $93,700 | 49.5% | 12.7% |
| Elmo | 290 | N/A | N/A | 38.1% | 11.7% |
| Forest Hill Village | 315 | N/A | $608,500 | 14.2% | 49.2% |
| Yaak | 293 | $60,000 | $380,800 | 17.8% | 19.6% |
| Emigrant | 322 | $62,863 | $350,000 | 72.4% | 30.1% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 301, Sunburst's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.
Population Overview
Sunburst is a small community located in Montana, within Toole County. The total population is 301. It ranks as the 204th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Sunburst is 42.0 years. This is 4% higher than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Sunburst is $65,938. This is 9% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 18% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.6%. This is 27% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 15.7%. This is 335% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $139,600. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.1x, Sunburst is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 86.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 25% higher than the state average of 69.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Sunburst has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 0.7%. The Hispanic or Latino population (0.7%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.
Education
29.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 17% 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 94.7%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Sunburst, Montana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in Montana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Sunburst, Montana?
Sunburst, Montana has a population of 301 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Sunburst, MT?
The median household income in Sunburst is $65,938, which is 18% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Sunburst, MT?
The poverty rate in Sunburst is 14.6%. This means approximately 44 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Sunburst, Montana?
Sunburst's population is 89.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.7% Asian.
What is the median home value in Sunburst, MT?
The median home value in Sunburst is $139,600. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.1x.
How educated is Sunburst, Montana?
29.3% of adults (25+) in Sunburst hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 12.2% hold a graduate or professional degree.