Counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Montana
The vaccine deployment in December 2020 signaled a turning point in the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of May 2021, 40% of the U.S. population was fully vaccinated. But as vaccination rates lagged over the summer, new surges of COVID-19 came, including Delta in the summer of 2021, and now the Omicron variant, which comprises the majority of cases in the U.S.
Researchers around the world have reported that Omicron is more transmissible than Delta, making breakthrough and repeat infections more likely.
The United States as of Nov. 16 reached over 1 million COVID-19-related deaths and 98.1 million COVID-19 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. Currently, 68.6% of the population is fully vaccinated, and 10.1% of vaccinated people have received the most recently available bivalent booster doses.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with highest COVID-19 infection rates in Montana using data from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and vaccination data from Covid Act Now. Counties are ranked by the highest infection rate per 100,000 residents within the week leading up to Nov. 10, 2022. Cumulative cases per 100,000 served as a tiebreaker.
Keep reading to see whether your county ranks among the highest COVID-19 infection rates in your state.
#50. Powder River County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,662 (398 total cases)
--- 20.0% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 595 (10 total deaths)
--- 77.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 23.5% (395 fully vaccinated)
#49. Sweet Grass County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,736 (887 total cases)
--- 19.8% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 348 (13 total deaths)
--- 3.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.7% (1,559 fully vaccinated)
#48. Wibaux County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,871 (241 total cases)
--- 15.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 826 (8 total deaths)
--- 146.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 29.1% (282 fully vaccinated)
#47. Fallon County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,931 (738 total cases)
--- 12.4% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 387 (11 total deaths)
--- 15.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 35.1% (1,000 fully vaccinated)
#46. McCone County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,962 (432 total cases)
--- 12.3% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 541 (9 total deaths)
--- 61.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 18.3% (304 fully vaccinated)
#45. Sheridan County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,050 (862 total cases)
--- 12.0% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 393 (13 total deaths)
--- 17.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 49.5% (1,638 fully vaccinated)
#44. Sanders County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,632 (2,378 total cases)
--- 33.7% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 438 (53 total deaths)
--- 30.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 39.7% (4,813 fully vaccinated)
#43. Beaverhead County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,484 (2,409 total cases)
--- 13.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 328 (31 total deaths)
--- 2.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 55.3% (5,226 fully vaccinated)
#42. Madison County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,663 (2,293 total cases)
--- 9.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 256 (22 total deaths)
--- 23.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.1% (3,968 fully vaccinated)
#41. Phillips County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,402 (1,123 total cases)
--- 4.0% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 733 (29 total deaths)
--- 118.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.7% (1,807 fully vaccinated)
#40. Stillwater County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 17,517 (1,689 total cases)
--- 40.8% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 332 (32 total deaths)
--- 0.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.2% (4,167 fully vaccinated)
#39. Broadwater County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,697 (1,478 total cases)
--- 19.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 353 (22 total deaths)
--- 5.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 34.9% (2,176 fully vaccinated)
#38. Chouteau County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 21,934 (1,236 total cases)
--- 25.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 266 (15 total deaths)
--- 20.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 34.4% (1,940 fully vaccinated)
#37. Roosevelt County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,788 (3,718 total cases)
--- 14.2% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 682 (75 total deaths)
--- 103.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 86.9% (9,565 fully vaccinated)
#36. Flathead County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,695 (32,901 total cases)
--- 7.1% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 288 (299 total deaths)
--- 14.0% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 44.3% (46,007 fully vaccinated)
#35. Ravalli County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 18,427 (8,072 total cases)
--- 37.7% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 395 (173 total deaths)
--- 17.9% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 50.3% (22,042 fully vaccinated)
#34. Richland County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,669 (2,881 total cases)
--- 9.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 333 (36 total deaths)
--- 0.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 41.0% (4,425 fully vaccinated)
#33. Judith Basin County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 13,353 (268 total cases)
--- 54.9% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 50 (1 total deaths)
--- 85.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 40.8% (819 fully vaccinated)
#32. Pondera County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 23,752 (1,404 total cases)
--- 19.7% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 152 (9 total deaths)
--- 54.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.3% (3,330 fully vaccinated)
#31. Glacier County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,215 (4,568 total cases)
--- 12.3% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 560 (77 total deaths)
--- 67.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: not available
#30. Valley County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,745 (2,052 total cases)
--- 6.2% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 527 (39 total deaths)
--- 57.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.6% (3,594 fully vaccinated)
#29. Rosebud County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,792 (3,020 total cases)
--- 14.2% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 694 (62 total deaths)
--- 107.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 86.8% (7,759 fully vaccinated)
#28. Jefferson County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,695 (3,018 total cases)
--- 16.5% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 205 (25 total deaths)
--- 38.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 52.5% (6,411 fully vaccinated)
#27. Granite County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 19,236 (650 total cases)
--- 35.0% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 296 (10 total deaths)
--- 11.6% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.1% (1,288 fully vaccinated)
#26. Fergus County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 25,692 (2,839 total cases)
--- 13.2% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 543 (60 total deaths)
--- 62.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.4% (5,349 fully vaccinated)
#25. Toole County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 28,906 (1,369 total cases)
--- 2.3% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 528 (25 total deaths)
--- 57.6% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 47.4% (2,243 fully vaccinated)
#24. Musselshell County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,858 (1,059 total cases)
--- 22.8% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 669 (31 total deaths)
--- 99.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 35.7% (1,653 fully vaccinated)
#23. Gallatin County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 34,949 (39,994 total cases)
--- 18.1% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 116 (133 total deaths)
--- 65.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 61.2% (70,077 fully vaccinated)
#22. Lake County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,174 (7,972 total cases)
--- 11.5% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 345 (105 total deaths)
--- 3.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 58.8% (17,906 fully vaccinated)
#21. Park County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,122 (5,002 total cases)
--- 1.8% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 235 (39 total deaths)
--- 29.9% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 60.8% (10,103 fully vaccinated)
#20. Lewis and Clark County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,342 (21,067 total cases)
--- 2.5% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 287 (199 total deaths)
--- 14.3% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.2% (43,198 fully vaccinated)
#19. Silver Bow County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,140 (9,476 total cases)
--- 8.3% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 390 (136 total deaths)
--- 16.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 62.9% (21,974 fully vaccinated)
#18. Custer County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,960 (3,416 total cases)
--- 1.3% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 447 (51 total deaths)
--- 33.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 45.3% (5,164 fully vaccinated)
#17. Prairie County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,927 (290 total cases)
--- 9.0% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 371 (4 total deaths)
--- 10.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.7% (417 fully vaccinated)
#16. Lincoln County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,302 (5,455 total cases)
--- 7.7% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 460 (92 total deaths)
--- 37.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 36.5% (7,288 fully vaccinated)
#15. Yellowstone County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,431 (49,085 total cases)
--- 2.8% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 363 (585 total deaths)
--- 8.4% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 53.2% (85,768 fully vaccinated)
#14. Teton County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 24,028 (1,477 total cases)
--- 18.8% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 439 (27 total deaths)
--- 31.0% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 43.2% (2,656 fully vaccinated)
#13. Missoula County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 27,365 (32,728 total cases)
--- 7.5% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 186 (223 total deaths)
--- 44.5% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 66.5% (79,587 fully vaccinated)
#12. Carbon County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 22,107 (2,371 total cases)
--- 25.3% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 270 (29 total deaths)
--- 19.4% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 48.6% (5,208 fully vaccinated)
#11. Hill County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,788 (5,240 total cases)
--- 7.4% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 443 (73 total deaths)
--- 32.2% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 72.8% (11,995 fully vaccinated)
#10. Dawson County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,895 (2,661 total cases)
--- 4.4% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 685 (59 total deaths)
--- 104.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 38.5% (3,318 fully vaccinated)
#9. Meagher County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 30,129 (561 total cases)
--- 1.8% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 537 (10 total deaths)
--- 60.3% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 51.9% (966 fully vaccinated)
#8. Cascade County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 35,240 (28,673 total cases)
--- 19.1% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 455 (370 total deaths)
--- 35.8% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.3% (45,812 fully vaccinated)
#7. Big Horn County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 41,520 (5,530 total cases)
--- 40.3% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 766 (102 total deaths)
--- 128.7% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 92.6% (12,335 fully vaccinated)
#6. Powell County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 31,306 (2,157 total cases)
--- 5.8% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 464 (32 total deaths)
--- 38.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 46.4% (3,197 fully vaccinated)
#5. Daniels County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 26,509 (448 total cases)
--- 10.4% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 533 (9 total deaths)
--- 59.1% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 42.5% (719 fully vaccinated)
#4. Petroleum County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 8,419 (41 total cases)
--- 71.5% less cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 205 (1 total deaths)
--- 38.8% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 31.8% (155 fully vaccinated)
#3. Mineral County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 29,679 (1,305 total cases)
--- 0.3% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 387 (17 total deaths)
--- 15.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 56.0% (2,462 fully vaccinated)
#2. Deer Lodge County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 33,600 (3,071 total cases)
--- 13.6% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 328 (30 total deaths)
--- 2.1% less deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 59.5% (5,442 fully vaccinated)
#1. Blaine County, MT
- Cumulative cases per 100k: 37,090 (2,478 total cases)
--- 25.3% more cases per 100k residents than Montana
- Cumulative deaths per 100k: 494 (33 total deaths)
--- 47.5% more deaths per 100k residents than Montana
- Population that is fully vaccinated: 88.3% (5,897 fully vaccinated)