Lincoln County, Montana Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Montana. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in Lincoln County, Montana. The estimated population of Lincoln County, Montana is 19,674 people, with a median age of 52.9.

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

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
19,674
-0.86% +2.21%
2020
19,845
+1.58%
-
2019
19,537
+0.92%
-
2018
19,358
+0.57%
-
2017
19,249
- -

Population of Lincoln 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
91.3%
93.2%
-2.04%
Black/African American
0.1%
0.1%
0.00%
Native
1.3%
1%
+30.00%
Hispanic
3.4%
2.7%
+25.93%
Asian
0.3%
0.4%
-25.00%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.3%
0%
0.00%
Two Or More Races
3.2%
2.6%
+23.08%
Other
0.1%
0%
0.00%

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 Lincoln 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 52.9 +0.76% 52.7 +0.57% 53.1 +0.76%
2020 52.5 +0.19% 52.4 +0.19% 52.7 +0.19%
2019 52.4 -0.38% 52.3 -0.57% 52.6 0%
2018 52.6 +0.96% 52.6 +1.35% 52.6 +0.57%
2017 52.1 - 51.9 - 52.3 -

The median age of Lincoln 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 9 929 +18.11% 825 -3.06% 1,105 797
10 to 19 1,085 -31.36% 1,157 +8.29% 777 1,237
20 to 29 792 +4.95% 602 -4.24% 828 569
30 to 39 804 +7.29% 843 +12.15% 864 946
40 to 49 959 +5.79% 1,058 -5.24% 1,010 1,003
50 to 59 1,563 -21.56% 1,601 -5.64% 1,247 1,508
60 to 69 1,945 +0.45% 1,906 +5.24% 1,953 2,005
70+ 1,557 +29.53% 1,623 +8.53% 2,066 1,759

Median Household Income

The latest median household income of Lincoln County, Montana is $41,922.00.

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 Lincoln County.

  • Under 25
    $40,577.00
  • 25 to 44
    $50,128.00
  • 45 to 64
    $47,489.00
  • 65 and over
    $35,562.00

Average Household Income

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

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Montana is currently $60,483.00.

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.

2.08% of households in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County against other areas.

  • Less than $24,999
    28.56%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    28.34%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    13.90%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.22%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    13.14%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    2.75%
  • $200,000 or more
    2.08%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in Lincoln County is $27,417.00.

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

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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
    6.14%
  • Bachelor's degree
    23.17%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.58%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    54.50%
  • Less than high school diploma
    3.62%

Employment

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

The total population of Lincoln County over the age of 16 is 16,458.

Of those people, a total of 46.50% 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 Lincoln County is 43.00%.

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 700 41.90% 8.50%
20 to 24 years 586 74.90% 23.00%
25 to 29 years 811 63.00% 5.10%
30 to 34 years 841 68.10% 1.60%
35 to 44 years 1,948 80.00% 8.00%
45 to 54 years 2,327 69.00% 2.90%
55 to 59 years 1,462 64.80% 13.80%
60 to 64 years 2,083 46.40% 4.70%
65 to 74 years 3,618 17.10% 6.20%
75 years and over 2,082 6.50% 8.10%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in Lincoln 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 15,442 46.30% 6.50%
Black or African American 8 25.00% 0.00%
American Indian and Alaska Native 221 43.90% 41.20%
Asian 65 64.60% 0.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 53 73.60% 59.00%
Other 74 54.10% 17.50%
Two or more races 595 45.20% 7.80%
Hispanic or Latino 460 62.20% 6.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 15,176 46.10% 6.50%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations in Lincoln 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 Lincoln County is 7,081, with median earnings of $31,267.00.

Women in Lincoln County, Montana earning approximately 69.10% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 7,081 $31,267.00
Male 3,748 $37,813.00
Female 3,333 $26,145.00

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 721 $51,008.00
Business and Financial 264 $36,471.00
Computer and Mathematical 198 $29,318.00
Architecture and Engineering 82 $56,379.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 64 $50,357.00
Community and Social Service 156 $65,068.00
Legal 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 226 $26,477.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 164 $22,434.00
Healthcare Practitioners 264 $78,098.00
Healthcare Support 220 $26,094.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 107 $45,729.00
Law Enforcement 118 $60,000.00
Food Preparation and Serving 419 $13,779.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 321 $9,792.00
Personal Care and Service 263 $12,153.00
Sales 551 $27,193.00
Office and Administrative Support 822 $30,417.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 215 $30,359.00
Construction and Extraction 662 $39,239.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 298 $43,889.00
Production 297 $40,769.00
Transportation and Material Moving 448 $31,316.00

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 409 $48,750.00 312 $53,581.00
Business and Financial 88 $43,707.00 176 $32,328.00
Computer and Mathematical 77 $94,087.00 121 $27,936.00
Architecture and Engineering 82 $56,379.00 0 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 47 $46,635.00 17 $0.00
Community and Social Service 67 $68,185.00 89 $63,295.00
Legal 0 $0.00 0 $0.00
Educational and Library 42 $33,654.00 184 $20,000.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 83 $32,361.00 81 $20,125.00
Healthcare Practitioners 81 $79,701.00 183 $51,094.00
Healthcare Support 78 $25,878.00 142 $26,818.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 96 $46,875.00 11 $0.00
Law Enforcement 98 $95,153.00 20 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 119 $20,592.00 300 $13,118.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 147 $9,813.00 174 $9,783.00
Personal Care and Service 32 $4,605.00 231 $12,604.00
Sales 233 $41,875.00 318 $25,150.00
Office and Administrative Support 133 $35,901.00 689 $27,176.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 125 $30,074.00 90 $30,764.00
Construction and Extraction 662 $39,239.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 298 $43,889.00 0 $0.00
Production 238 $43,750.00 59 $24,808.00
Transportation and Material Moving 372 $44,907.00 76 $25,479.00

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 8,458 households in Lincoln 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 5,193 families in Lincoln County with an average family size of 2.88 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 4,417 266 510 3,265
Average Household Size 2.82 4.72 3.71 1.18
Total Families 4,417 266 510 0
Average Household Size 2.78 3.52 3.37 0

Poverty

Of the 5,193 families in Lincoln County, 9.70% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in Lincoln 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 11,041 housing units in Lincoln County, Montana.

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

Total Percentage
Occupied 8,458 76.61%
Vacant 2,583 23.39%

14.01% of the total 11,041 housing units in Lincoln County are rental units. This is approximately 1,547 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 6,596 are occupied by the owner - or 59.74% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in Lincoln County is $719.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in Lincoln 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
    315
  • Less than $500
    335
  • $500 to $999
    938
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    205
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    58
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    11
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    0

Property Value

The median value of a property in Lincoln County is $212,400.00.

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

  • Less than $50,000
    454
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    849
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    653
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,131
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    1,397
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    1,513
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    431
  • $1,000,000 or more
    168

Property Age

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

  • 1939 or earlier
    833
  • 1940 to 1949
    320
  • 1950 to 1959
    757
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,335
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,935
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,704
  • 1990 to 1999
    1,567
  • 2000 to 2009
    1,957
  • 2010 to 2013
    613
  • 2014 or later
    20

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 Lincoln County that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    383
  • 1 vehicle available
    2,205
  • 2 vehicles available
    3,172
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    2,698

Commuting to Work

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

19.8 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in Lincoln 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
    600
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,951
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    1,253
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    529
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    362
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    304
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    482
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    5
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    40
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    198
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    159
  • 90 or more minutes
    264

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Montana

We have data for 18 places in Lincoln County, Montana. Click on a place below to see more information about the demographics of that place.