Valley County, Montana Demographics 2026

Population Overview

Valley County is located in Montana with a total population of 7,540. It is the 28th most populous county out of 56 in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Valley County is 43.2 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. 10.7% 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 Valley County is $64,515. This is 8% lower than the state median of $69,922. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 18% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.9%. This is 7% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.3%. This is 13% lower than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $198,600. Housing costs are 41% lower than the state median of $338,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.1x. 77.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 12% higher than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Valley County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 84.8% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.6%. The Asian population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

21.5% 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 94.7%.