Counties in Montana where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

Written by:
October 3, 2021
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Counties in Montana where people spend most of their paycheck on housing

It's no secret that many Americans are forgoing homeownership in favor of renting. In 2020, renters in the U.S. occupied 43 million housing units.

The Stacker team looked at data from a United States Census survey that revealed an estimated 43,378,800 renter-occupied homes in the United States as of 2017, which makes up 36.1% of all households in the country. In 2019, renting was more affordable than buying a median-priced home in 59% of the counties; in 2021, the opposite was true: Owning was more affordable than renting in 63% of U.S. counties.

Stacker compiled a list of counties in Montana where people spend the highest percent of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Of course, saving money by owning a home is unattainable for many Americans who don't have savings that could cover a down payment, those who are denied a mortgage, or both. Keep reading to see where in your home state most of people's take-home pay goes to their monthly rent.

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#50. Big Horn County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.7%
- Total occupied households: 3,609
- Median household income: $49,859
- Median monthly housing cost: $532

#49. Wibaux County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 67.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.9%
- Total occupied households: 498
- Median household income: $53,958
- Median monthly housing cost: $580

#48. Golden Valley County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 12.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 351
- Median household income: $43,875
- Median monthly housing cost: $473

#47. Granite County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 59.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.3%
- Total occupied households: 1,308
- Median household income: $49,881
- Median monthly housing cost: $547

#46. Judith Basin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.7%
- Total occupied households: 906
- Median household income: $43,661
- Median monthly housing cost: $484

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#45. McCone County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 20.3%
- Total occupied households: 723
- Median household income: $49,701
- Median monthly housing cost: $553

#44. Toole County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.7%
- Total occupied households: 1,867
- Median household income: $50,721
- Median monthly housing cost: $569

#43. Richland County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 61.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.6%
- Total occupied households: 4,535
- Median household income: $67,205
- Median monthly housing cost: $759

#42. Powder River County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 15.7%
- Total occupied households: 737
- Median household income: $54,427
- Median monthly housing cost: $618

#41. Garfield County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 63.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.4%
- Total occupied households: 438
- Median household income: $42,000
- Median monthly housing cost: $484

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#40. Sheridan County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 13.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 1,639
- Median household income: $55,521
- Median monthly housing cost: $645

#39. Broadwater County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.5%
- Total occupied households: 2,364
- Median household income: $60,594
- Median monthly housing cost: $707

#38. Glacier County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.2%
- Total occupied households: 4,163
- Median household income: $36,045
- Median monthly housing cost: $421

#37. Blaine County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.8%
- Total occupied households: 2,366
- Median household income: $41,279
- Median monthly housing cost: $483

#36. Chouteau County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.7%
- Total occupied households: 2,274
- Median household income: $42,298
- Median monthly housing cost: $495

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#35. Carter County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.0%
- Total occupied households: 628
- Median household income: $48,000
- Median monthly housing cost: $568

#34. Valley County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.4%
- Total occupied households: 3,386
- Median household income: $53,162
- Median monthly housing cost: $630

#33. Dawson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.6%
- Total occupied households: 3,930
- Median household income: $58,596
- Median monthly housing cost: $700

#32. Liberty County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 14.4%
- Total occupied households: 895
- Median household income: $44,875
- Median monthly housing cost: $537

#31. Powell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 16.3%
- Total occupied households: 2,426
- Median household income: $54,667
- Median monthly housing cost: $655

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#30. Petroleum County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 14.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 13.7%
- Total occupied households: 204
- Median household income: $51,250
- Median monthly housing cost: $629

#29. Fergus County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 53.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.9%
- Total occupied households: 4,912
- Median household income: $50,540
- Median monthly housing cost: $642

#28. Wheatland County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 19.1%
- Total occupied households: 792
- Median household income: $39,655
- Median monthly housing cost: $518

#27. Pondera County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 56.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 18.5%
- Total occupied households: 2,103
- Median household income: $51,151
- Median monthly housing cost: $670

#26. Jefferson County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 57.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 21.4%
- Total occupied households: 4,484
- Median household income: $69,646
- Median monthly housing cost: $913

#25. Hill County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 15.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.5%
- Total occupied households: 6,369
- Median household income: $49,321
- Median monthly housing cost: $649

#24. Mineral County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 52.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.9%
- Total occupied households: 1,786
- Median household income: $41,705
- Median monthly housing cost: $564

#23. Deer Lodge County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 55.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.3%
- Total occupied households: 3,903
- Median household income: $41,820
- Median monthly housing cost: $568

#22. Sweet Grass County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 60.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 17.8%
- Total occupied households: 1,566
- Median household income: $49,886
- Median monthly housing cost: $678

#21. Meagher County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.3%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 41.3%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.8%
- Total occupied households: 702
- Median household income: $46,607
- Median monthly housing cost: $635

#20. Sanders County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.4%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.1%
- Total occupied households: 5,036
- Median household income: $40,823
- Median monthly housing cost: $559

#19. Teton County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.6%
- Total occupied households: 2,464
- Median household income: $55,000
- Median monthly housing cost: $756

#18. Madison County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 23.8%
- Total occupied households: 3,570
- Median household income: $54,107
- Median monthly housing cost: $748

#17. Stillwater County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.6%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 58.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 22.3%
- Total occupied households: 3,761
- Median household income: $64,645
- Median monthly housing cost: $894

#16. Carbon County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 54.0%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.2%
- Total occupied households: 4,524
- Median household income: $58,707
- Median monthly housing cost: $816

#15. Treasure County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 16.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.1%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.1%
- Total occupied households: 351
- Median household income: $43,047
- Median monthly housing cost: $600

#14. Custer County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.2%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 51.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 4,903
- Median household income: $52,965
- Median monthly housing cost: $761

#13. Silver Bow County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 48.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 25.2%
- Total occupied households: 14,960
- Median household income: $45,718
- Median monthly housing cost: $677

#12. Beaverhead County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 17.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 30.6%
- Total occupied households: 3,992
- Median household income: $43,201
- Median monthly housing cost: $643

#11. Lake County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 49.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.1%
- Total occupied households: 11,802
- Median household income: $48,829
- Median monthly housing cost: $734

#10. Lewis and Clark County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 18.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 50.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 24.3%
- Total occupied households: 27,893
- Median household income: $65,791
- Median monthly housing cost: $989

#9. Ravalli County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.0%
- Total occupied households: 17,354
- Median household income: $53,054
- Median monthly housing cost: $862

#8. Park County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.8%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 29.7%
- Total occupied households: 7,782
- Median household income: $53,068
- Median monthly housing cost: $872

#7. Cascade County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.7%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 45.9%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 27.3%
- Total occupied households: 34,329
- Median household income: $49,913
- Median monthly housing cost: $821

#6. Yellowstone County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 47.2%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.5%
- Total occupied households: 66,385
- Median household income: $61,264
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,015

#5. Musselshell County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 19.9%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.6%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 26.5%
- Total occupied households: 2,181
- Median household income: $43,274
- Median monthly housing cost: $717

#4. Flathead County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 28.8%
- Total occupied households: 38,773
- Median household income: $56,182
- Median monthly housing cost: $937

#3. Missoula County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 20.8%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 40.4%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 33.2%
- Total occupied households: 49,313
- Median household income: $54,062
- Median monthly housing cost: $939

#2. Lincoln County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.0%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 46.7%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 31.5%
- Total occupied households: 8,122
- Median household income: $40,140
- Median monthly housing cost: $704

#1. Gallatin County

- Median percent of income spent on housing: 21.5%
--- Percent of households spending <20% of income on housing: 43.5%
--- Percent of households spending >30% of income on housing: 32.7%
- Total occupied households: 43,777
- Median household income: $66,397
- Median monthly housing cost: $1,192

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