Population 7,053 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Powell County
Household size in Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.38 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.29 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.15 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.14 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Powell County is a place of small households, averaging 2.24 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Household size has dropped from 2.38 in 2006–10, a much bigger shift than nationally.
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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 43.9 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.8 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 45.3 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 45.9 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.0 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Powell County skews older: half of its residents are older than 45.9, 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 43.9 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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.9% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 7.3% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.6% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −5.3 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Powell County: 5.6% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has fallen 5.3 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 Powell County
Renters in Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.4% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 29.5% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.9% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 27.5% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.0 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than a quarter of households in Powell County rent their homes (27.5%), below the national share of 34.8%; the rest own. About half of owners (51.3%) have paid off their mortgages, well above the national share of 39.8%. Renting is most common in the southeast and least common in the northwest. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 2.0 points, in line with the national trend.
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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.2% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.5% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.6 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 16.5% of the housing in Powell County, 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 has fallen 2.6 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1961 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1962 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1965 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +1 | +7 | +6 |
The housing in Powell County is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1965, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The newest homes are mostly in the northwest, the oldest in the south. Powell County has older homes than the great majority of Montana counties.
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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $568 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $532 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $751 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $840 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$272 | +$487 | +$606 |
The median renter in Powell County pays $840 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $272 a month since 2006–10, up 48%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 19.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
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 Powell County
Bachelor's degrees in Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.1% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 18.5% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.0% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.0% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Powell County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 20.0%, against 35.6% nationally. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.9 points, a smaller shift than nationally. Powell County has a lower share of college graduates than at least four in five Montana counties.
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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 88.8% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.5% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 89.0% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 93.6% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.8 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in Powell County is above the national rate: 93.6% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Montana. The share with a diploma has risen 4.8 points since 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 Powell County
| Period | Powell County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.7% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.6% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 0.5% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.1 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Powell County has been strong: just 2.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 3.1 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
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).
Powell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powell County | 2.24 | 45.9 | 5.6% | 27.5% | 16.5% | 1965 | $840 | 20.0% | 93.6% | 2.5% |
| Granite County | 2.25 | 52.4 | 6.0% | 22.1% | 36.5% | 1981 | $678 | 33.6% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Ravalli County | 2.56 | 48.6 | 6.0% | 20.6% | 12.3% | 1988 | $1,131 | 29.0% | 93.4% | 3.0% |
| Meagher County | 2.15 | 53.5 | 0.8% | 24.6% | 36.3% | 1974 | $1,244 | 30.7% | 91.9% | 0.3% |
| Wheatland County | 2.18 | 43.9 | 7.5% | 24.5% | 23.9% | 1959 | $849 | 23.3% | 93.6% | 0.8% |
| Clearwater County | 2.31 | 51.4 | 7.2% | 17.1% | 18.0% | 1977 | $897 | 17.1% | 91.5% | 4.4% |
| Nez Perce County | 2.45 | 42.2 | 13.1% | 29.6% | 8.5% | 1971 | $1,070 | 26.8% | 93.3% | 2.7% |
| Musselshell County | 2.37 | 49.9 | 5.8% | 14.9% | 19.1% | 1971 | $1,481 | 21.9% | 89.4% | 8.3% |
| Asotin County | 2.40 | 46.4 | 10.4% | 26.8% | 9.1% | 1976 | $1,133 | 23.9% | 92.2% | 4.8% |
| Garfield County | 2.29 | 47.4 | 2.4% | 23.1% | 15.7% | 1961 | $810 | 31.1% | 94.1% | 5.9% |
| Columbia County | 2.11 | 49.5 | 9.6% | 22.3% | 15.8% | 1956 | $1,020 | 23.9% | 89.1% | 4.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Custer County, NE · Teton County, ID · Terry County, TX · Terrell County, TX · Terrell County, GA · Telfair County, GA · Decatur County, IA · De Baca County, NM · Daniels County, MT · Daggett County, UT
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 Powell 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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