You’re probably never going to make enough money to live in the richest counties in Montana.
The median household income in Gallatin County, the richest county in Montana is $93,528, significantly higher than the US median of $74,580, which means based purely on math most people never make enough to live there.
And that’s okay because it’s still fun to look at the people living in the lap of luxury.
So we used Saturday Night Science and the most recent Census to rank home prices and incomes for all 56 counties in the Treasure State. Let’s star gaze together.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Table | Summary
The 10 Richest Counties In Montana For 2026
What is the richest county in Montana? The richest county in Montana is Gallatin County. In contrast, the poorest county in state is Prairie County, according to the Census data.
Now you know exactly where to move in Montana. Keep on reading for more about the top ten and a detailed methodology.
Or, check out the best places to live in Montana and the cheapest places to live in Montana.
The Richest Counties In Montana For 2026
1. Gallatin County
Biggest Place: Bozeman
Population: 124,074
Median Income: $93,528 (2nd highest)
Median Home Price: $697,179 (2nd highest)
More on Gallatin County: Data
2. Jefferson County
Biggest Place: Montana City
Population: 12,774
Median Income: $95,490 (highest)
Median Home Price: $529,866 (8th highest)
More on Jefferson County: Data
3. Madison County
Biggest Place: Big Sky
Population: 9,223
Median Income: $75,250 (10th highest)
Median Home Price: $748,296 (highest)
More on Madison County: Data
4. Flathead County
Biggest Place: Kalispell
Population: 110,695
Median Income: $73,925 (11th highest)
Median Home Price: $639,811 (3rd highest)
More on Flathead County: Data
5. Carbon County
Biggest Place: Red Lodge
Population: 11,116
Median Income: $80,261 (4th highest)
Median Home Price: $508,255 (10th highest)
More on Carbon County: Data
6. Stillwater County
Biggest Place: Columbus
Population: 9,182
Median Income: $84,732 (3rd highest)
Median Home Price: $485,136 (12th highest)
More on Stillwater County: Data
7. Missoula County
Biggest Place: Missoula
Population: 120,672
Median Income: $75,598 (9th highest)
Median Home Price: $570,555 (7th highest)
More on Missoula County: Data
8. Sweet Grass County
Biggest Place: Big Timber
Population: 3,720
Median Income: $77,000 (6th highest)
Median Home Price: $486,040 (11th highest)
More on Sweet Grass County: Data
9. Lewis And Clark County
Biggest Place: Helena
Population: 73,464
Median Income: $78,237 (5th highest)
Median Home Price: $462,124 (13th highest)
More on Lewis And Clark County: Data
10. Ravalli County
Biggest Place: Hamilton
Population: 46,727
Median Income: $71,283 (16th highest)
Median Home Price: $596,540 (5th highest)
More on Ravalli County: Data
Methodology: How do you determine which Montana county is the richest?
To determine the richest county in Montana, we have to look at a handful of metrics that correlate with how rich people are. To do that, we made assumptions about what makes a county rich. For reference, we are trying to make the kind of argument you’d make at a bar using facts, Saturday Night Science.
With that in mind, we went to the American Community Survey data and Zillow for the most recent reporting period for data on the following:
- Average Home Price
- Median Income
We then ranked each county in Montana for each of the criteria from one to 56, with one being the richest.
Taking the average rank across the two criteria, we created a Rich Score with the county posting the lowest overall score being the “Richest County In Montana.”
The result is some of the places with the most expensive real estate and highest earners in the Treasure State.
We updated this article for 2026. This report is our first time ranking the richest counties to live in Montana. We have also ranked the richest states and richest cities in the United States.
Summary: The Richest Counties In Montana For 2026
Living in Montana can vary from one part of the state to the next, with pretty extreme variance in home prices and incomes across counties.
The richest counties in Montana are Gallatin County, Jefferson County, Madison County, Flathead County, Carbon County, Stillwater County, Missoula County, Sweet Grass County, Lewis and Clark County, and Ravalli County.
Now you know the parts of the state where Goodwill will have the best goodies, and that’s what you came here to learn at the end of the day.
You are welcome.
Here’s a look at the poorest counties in Montana according to the data:
- Prairie County
- Glacier County
- Wheatland County
For more Montana reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Montana
- Richest Cities In Montana
- Best Counties To Live In Montana
- Cheapest Places To Live In Montana
Detailed List Of The Richest Counties In Montana
| Rank | County | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gallatin County | 124,074 | $93,528 | $697,179 |
| 2 | Jefferson County | 12,774 | $95,490 | $529,866 |
| 3 | Madison County | 9,223 | $75,250 | $748,296 |
| 4 | Flathead County | 110,695 | $73,925 | $639,811 |
| 5 | Carbon County | 11,116 | $80,261 | $508,255 |
| 6 | Stillwater County | 9,182 | $84,732 | $485,136 |
| 7 | Missoula County | 120,672 | $75,598 | $570,555 |
| 8 | Sweet Grass County | 3,720 | $77,000 | $486,040 |
| 9 | Lewis And Clark County | 73,464 | $78,237 | $462,124 |
| 10 | Ravalli County | 46,727 | $71,283 | $596,540 |
| 11 | Park County | 17,710 | $70,047 | $601,227 |
| 12 | Yellowstone County | 168,957 | $76,570 | $393,358 |
| 13 | Broadwater County | 7,668 | $70,374 | $524,251 |
| 14 | Lake County | 32,561 | $63,360 | $585,034 |
| 15 | Teton County | 6,353 | $70,430 | $349,224 |
| 16 | Meagher County | 2,007 | $71,932 | $312,168 |
| 17 | Richland County | 11,235 | $73,084 | $274,828 |
| 18 | Garfield County | 1,094 | $69,583 | $337,113 |
| 19 | Cascade County | 84,606 | $67,690 | $337,137 |
| 20 | Mineral County | 4,959 | $63,450 | $382,886 |
| 21 | Beaverhead County | 9,713 | $61,268 | $399,744 |
| 22 | Powell County | 7,053 | $66,923 | $318,529 |
| 23 | Granite County | 3,462 | $59,265 | $442,321 |
| 24 | Custer County | 11,961 | $70,605 | $246,184 |
| 25 | Powder River County | 1,815 | $67,045 | $299,261 |
| 26 | Fergus County | 11,687 | $63,706 | $314,071 |
| 27 | Fallon County | 2,760 | $76,250 | $192,156 |
| 28 | Mccone County | 1,670 | $69,375 | $254,778 |
| 29 | Sanders County | 13,285 | $57,476 | $447,470 |
| 30 | Treasure County | 732 | $67,917 | $246,156 |
| 31 | Dawson County | 8,827 | $71,334 | $192,885 |
| 32 | Valley County | 7,519 | $71,695 | $182,545 |
| 33 | Silver Bow County | 35,785 | $61,754 | $280,525 |
| 34 | Judith Basin County | 2,071 | $59,000 | $304,860 |
| 35 | Wibaux County | 1,193 | $67,462 | $239,789 |
| 36 | Chouteau County | 5,906 | $58,218 | $314,698 |
| 37 | Lincoln County | 21,175 | $47,143 | $426,011 |
| 38 | Deer Lodge County | 9,597 | $57,527 | $286,576 |
| 39 | Blaine County | 6,949 | $64,813 | $214,054 |
| 40 | Sheridan County | 3,669 | $70,147 | $176,229 |
| 41 | Golden Valley County | 899 | $58,333 | $248,586 |
| 42 | Musselshell County | 5,152 | $58,920 | $241,727 |
| 43 | Petroleum County | 447 | $60,208 | $211,297 |
| 44 | Big Horn County | 12,891 | $58,750 | $217,738 |
| 45 | Pondera County | 6,035 | $52,338 | $260,328 |
| 46 | Liberty County | 1,952 | $57,857 | $223,792 |
| 47 | Hill County | 16,155 | $52,798 | $231,657 |
| 48 | Phillips County | 4,221 | $53,417 | $223,068 |
| 49 | Rosebud County | 8,165 | $49,914 | $224,632 |
| 50 | Toole County | 5,061 | $57,731 | $181,921 |
| 51 | Carter County | 1,308 | $54,167 | $187,363 |
| 52 | Daniels County | 1,494 | $55,625 | $168,084 |
| 53 | Roosevelt County | 10,526 | $57,063 | $143,771 |
| 54 | Wheatland County | 2,056 | $49,489 | $176,918 |
| 55 | Glacier County | 13,637 | $46,875 | $178,024 |
| 56 | Prairie County | 1,250 | $51,250 | $139,580 |