Carbon County, Montana Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Carbon County, Montana, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in Carbon County, Montana. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Carbon County, Montana. The estimated population of Carbon County, Montana is 10,488 people, with a median age of 50.7.

We can look at the total population in Carbon County over the last 5 years to see how much it has changed.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
10,488
-1.88% +0.21%
2020
10,689
+0.87%
-
2019
10,597
+0.48%
-
2018
10,546
+0.76%
-
2017
10,466
- -

Population of Carbon County, Montana by Race and Ethnicity

We can also look at how the population has changed over the last 5 years by each of the race/ethnicity types as defined by the US Census Bureau.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
93.2%
94.6%
-1.48%
Black/African American
0.7%
0.2%
+250.00%
Native
0.6%
0.8%
-25.00%
Hispanic
2.7%
2.4%
+12.50%
Asian
0.4%
0.3%
+33.33%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
1.7%
1.3%
+30.77%
Other
0.6%
0.3%
+100.00%

This data can be very important for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of Carbon County, Montana by Age and Gender

The age and gender of a population is another interesting demographic statistic because it lets us track trends in the population over time. For example, we can see how the population has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 50.7 -0.78% 49.9 -0.8% 51.3 -0.19%
2020 51.1 +1.19% 50.3 +0.2% 51.4 +0.59%
2019 50.5 +0.4% 50.2 0% 51.1 +1.39%
2018 50.3 +0.6% 50.2 +0.4% 50.4 +1%
2017 50 - 50 - 49.9 -

The median age of Carbon County, Montana gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 503 +0.43% 425 +3.16% 504 435
10 to 19 618 -4.06% 544 -2.18% 591 526
20 to 29 393 +12.02% 394 -2.92% 441 372
30 to 39 494 -0.94% 638 -6.33% 488 591
40 to 49 630 +8.45% 600 -3.68% 683 572
50 to 59 827 -7.21% 856 -22.25% 765 670
60 to 69 1,037 -2.81% 981 +10.59% 1,003 1,078
70+ 769 +17.47% 757 +12.92% 910 859

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Carbon County, Montana is $63,178.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less. The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for Carbon County.

  • Under 25
    $22,708.00
  • 25 to 44
    $69,962.00
  • 45 to 64
    $67,641.00
  • 65 and over
    $52,074.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in Carbon County, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Carbon County, and then dividing that number by the total number of households. This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of Carbon County, Montana is currently $81,701.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

5.96% of households in Carbon County are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of Carbon County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    18.24%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    21.05%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    18.77%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    18.02%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    12.61%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    5.34%
  • $200,000 or more
    5.96%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Carbon County is $37,557.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of Carbon County by the total population of Carbon County.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Carbon County, Montana, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in Carbon County to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    14.27%
  • Bachelor's degree
    30.56%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    11.91%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    41.57%
  • Less than high school diploma
    1.69%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in Carbon County that are over the age of 16.

The total population of Carbon County over the age of 16 is 8,827.

Of those people, a total of 62.10% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in Carbon County is 59.10%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 395 39.50% 10.90%
20 to 24 years 394 98.00% 2.30%
25 to 29 years 419 79.70% 0.60%
30 to 34 years 497 91.10% 2.90%
35 to 44 years 1,235 89.60% 4.20%
45 to 54 years 1,296 86.00% 7.00%
55 to 59 years 741 75.40% 3.40%
60 to 64 years 1,142 54.10% 9.20%
65 to 74 years 1,733 35.20% 1.60%
75 years and over 975 15.10% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Carbon County. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 8,445 61.50% 3.70%
Black or African American 56 100.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 49 32.70% 0.00%
Asian 44 72.70% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 1 100.00% 0.00%
Other 44 100.00% 0.00%
Two or more races 188 74.50% 43.60%
Hispanic or Latino 206 84.00% 0.00%
Not Hispanic or Latino 8,281 61.10% 3.80%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Carbon County as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in Carbon County is 5,219, with median earnings of $34,389.00.

Women in Carbon County, Montana earning approximately 59.50% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 5,219 $34,389.00
Male 2,876 $44,529.00
Female 2,343 $26,488.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 890 $46,630.00
Business and Financial 231 $68,389.00
Computer and Mathematical 29 $70,893.00
Architecture and Engineering 68 $66,000.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 59 $92,829.00
Community and Social Service 47 $26,875.00
Legal 15 $35,417.00
Educational and Library 363 $45,469.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 34 $5,357.00
Healthcare Practitioners 307 $49,716.00
Healthcare Support 138 $26,216.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 43 $39,107.00
Law Enforcement 17 $88,750.00
Food Preparation and Serving 311 $11,673.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 298 $23,494.00
Personal Care and Service 111 $18,750.00
Sales 505 $29,063.00
Office and Administrative Support 346 $27,500.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 96 $20,000.00
Construction and Extraction 441 $58,194.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 212 $50,323.00
Production 227 $18,750.00
Transportation and Material Moving 261 $40,880.00

Occupations by Gender

The table below shows the same occupations from the list above, but we have split them by male and female to see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 635 $45,767.00 255 $63,750.00
Business and Financial 95 $97,266.00 136 $51,667.00
Computer and Mathematical 13 $46,875.00 16 $71,429.00
Architecture and Engineering 68 $66,000.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 49 $93,092.00 10 $81,250.00
Community and Social Service 27 $4,107.00 20 $53,750.00
Legal 6 $0.00 9 $4,107.00
Educational and Library 58 $48,333.00 305 $39,219.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 3 $0.00 31 $5,089.00
Healthcare Practitioners 109 $48,162.00 198 $53,000.00
Healthcare Support 3 $0.00 135 $26,318.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 43 $39,107.00 0 $0.00
Law Enforcement 17 $88,750.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 128 $12,197.00 183 $11,217.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 81 $24,659.00 217 $23,328.00
Personal Care and Service 32 $20,750.00 79 $18,309.00
Sales 219 $51,339.00 286 $18,200.00
Office and Administrative Support 49 $52,917.00 297 $21,917.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 79 $14,875.00 17 $29,861.00
Construction and Extraction 394 $62,734.00 47 $38,516.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 211 $50,363.00 1 $0.00
Production 178 $19,545.00 49 $13,250.00
Transportation and Material Moving 250 $41,019.00 11 $16,964.00

Households and Family Size

A household defined bu the US Census Bureau is a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 4,512 households in Carbon County, with an average household size of 2.3 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 2,729 families in Carbon County with an average family size of 2.95 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each.

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 2,391 86 252 1,783
Average Household Size 2.83 4.15 4.29 1.22
Total Families 2,391 86 252 0
Average Household Size 2.82 2.83 4.24 0

Poverty

Of the 2,729 families in Carbon County, 6.40% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Carbon County:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 6,377 housing units in Carbon County, Montana.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 4,512 70.75%
Vacant 1,865 29.25%

16.50% of the total 6,377 housing units in Carbon County are rental units. This is approximately 1,052 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 3,299 are occupied by the owner - or 51.73% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Carbon County is $841.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Carbon County that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    161
  • Less than $500
    172
  • $500 to $999
    511
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    305
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    64
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    0
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Carbon County is $297,500.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in Carbon County that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    125
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    194
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    259
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    334
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    760
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    894
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    576
  • $1,000,000 or more
    157

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in Carbon County. The chart below shows the number of properties in Carbon County that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,437
  • 1940 to 1949
    164
  • 1950 to 1959
    420
  • 1960 to 1969
    337
  • 1970 to 1979
    942
  • 1980 to 1989
    760
  • 1990 to 1999
    986
  • 2000 to 2009
    943
  • 2010 to 2013
    337
  • 2014 or later
    51

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in Carbon County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    87
  • 1 vehicle available
    1,162
  • 2 vehicles available
    1,332
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    1,931

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in Carbon County get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in Carbon County that commute to work in a particular way.

25.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Carbon County.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    628
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    823
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    547
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    415
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    328
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    176
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    487
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    95
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    150
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    393
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    332
  • 90 or more minutes
    200

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Carbon County, Montana in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

Places in Carbon County, Montana

We have data for 16 places in Carbon County, Montana. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.