Population 32,561 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lake County
Household size in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.39 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.59 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.22 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
At 2.59 people per household, Lake County sits close to the national average of 2.65. The typical household here is bigger than in Montana overall, where it has 2.44 people. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.38, even as the national average fell.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.7 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.5 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 43.8 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.4 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.8 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Lake County skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.4, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. The median age has climbed from 40.7 in 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 14.2% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.7% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 12.7% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.4 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Lake County than nationally: 8.8%, against 11.6%. Montana as a whole looks much the same. The single-parent share has fallen 5.4 points since 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Lake County
Renters in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 32.1% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.7% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.0% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.0% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −7.1 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
About a quarter of households in Lake County rent their homes (25.0%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. Among homeowners, 48.7% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share has fallen 7.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 21.2% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 22.7% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 18.7% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Lake County: 18.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy is down 0.5 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1978 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1981 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1984 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Lake County is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1978 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the south.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $612 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $665 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $744 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $994 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$382 | +$487 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lake County pays $994 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $382 a month since 2006–10, up 63%, roughly in step with the nation. The typical renter here spends 26.3% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Rents run highest in the northeast and lowest in the center.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Lake County
Bachelor's degrees in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 23.4% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 23.9% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 29.2% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 31.0% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.6 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over three in ten adults 25 and older in Lake County (31.0%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a little below the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.6 points, as it has nationally. College graduates are most concentrated in the northeast and least in the center.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.6% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 90.4% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 91.6% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.8% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
Just over nine in ten adults in Lake County have finished high school (92.8%), above the national rate of 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in Montana as a whole (94.6%). The share with a diploma is up 4.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Lake County
| Period | Lake County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.8% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 11.2% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 7.4% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lake County is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. The rate is higher than in Montana as a whole (3.7%). Unemployment is down 5.3 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Lake County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake County | 2.59 | 44.4 | 8.8% | 25.0% | 18.7% | 1985 | $994 | 31.0% | 92.8% | 5.5% |
| Mineral County | 2.30 | 50.8 | 8.8% | 18.9% | 15.6% | 1985 | $814 | 25.8% | 92.6% | 3.2% |
| Sanders County | 2.42 | 55.5 | 4.9% | 18.7% | 19.5% | 1990 | $883 | 21.8% | 91.9% | 5.5% |
| Shoshone County | 2.38 | 44.8 | 8.8% | 26.0% | 17.2% | 1961 | $862 | 12.7% | 89.1% | 5.9% |
| Teton County | 2.44 | 43.6 | 5.2% | 24.5% | 15.9% | 1964 | $749 | 26.8% | 91.7% | 1.0% |
| Benewah County | 2.56 | 45.5 | 9.6% | 26.8% | 14.0% | 1978 | $858 | 22.0% | 86.4% | 3.0% |
| Kootenai County | 2.61 | 42.0 | 9.5% | 28.7% | 9.8% | 1994 | $1,591 | 29.9% | 94.8% | 3.1% |
| Cascade County | 2.37 | 40.5 | 10.3% | 31.5% | 10.3% | 1971 | $1,089 | 28.5% | 94.6% | 3.2% |
| Spokane County | 2.52 | 39.8 | 10.5% | 35.5% | 6.7% | 1978 | $1,446 | 33.0% | 94.7% | 5.4% |
| Chouteau County | 2.75 | 42.2 | 10.2% | 31.8% | 23.4% | 1967 | $646 | 22.5% | 92.6% | 2.6% |
| Lincoln County | 2.41 | 45.9 | 8.6% | 19.6% | 15.7% | 1966 | $889 | 24.0% | 92.2% | 7.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Peach County, GA · Otsego County, MI · Ottawa County, OH · Ottawa County, OK · Palo Pinto County, TX · Panola County, MS · Park County, WY · Pasquotank County, NC · Payette County, ID · Orleans County, VT
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Lake County. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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