Population 1,250 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Prairie County
Household size in Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.40 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.37 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.24 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Prairie 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. Prairie County has smaller households than at least four in five Montana counties.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 55.5 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 53.7 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 48.7 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 57.8 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +2.3 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Prairie County skews older: half of its residents are older than 57.8, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 55.5, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change. No other Montana county is older.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.8% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 4.0% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 6.6% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 6.6% of households in Prairie County, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Prairie County
Renters in Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 13.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.0% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 16.1% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 16.1% of households in Prairie County rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Among homeowners, 75.0% have no mortgage at all, well above the national share of 39.8%. Only four of Montana's 56 counties have a lower share of renters.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.0% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 19.0% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.9% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 20.7% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 20.7% of the housing in Prairie 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.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1950 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Prairie County is a place of older homes: half were built before 1957, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Only one other Montana county has older homes.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $444 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $495 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $715 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $627 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$183 | +$487 | +$606 |
Rent in Prairie County runs $627 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 25.4% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Prairie County has lower rents than the great majority of Montana counties.
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 Prairie County
Bachelor's degrees in Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.4% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 14.0% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 22.2% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 26.9% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +13.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are less common in Prairie County than nationally: 26.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.3% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.5% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 88.0% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +11.2 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Prairie County: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Prairie County has a higher share of high school graduates than at least four in five Montana counties.
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 Prairie County
| Period | Prairie County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.1% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.8% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.8% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.9% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Prairie County has been low: just 0.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Prairie County has lower unemployment than the great majority of Montana counties. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current 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).
Prairie 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prairie County | 2.24 | 57.8 | 6.6% | 16.1% | 20.7% | 1957 | $627 | 26.9% | 96.5% | 0.9% |
| Dawson County | 2.39 | 42.5 | 8.8% | 28.1% | 17.8% | 1964 | $801 | 22.0% | 93.7% | 3.1% |
| Custer County | 2.32 | 43.8 | 8.8% | 30.1% | 14.2% | 1963 | $837 | 27.5% | 95.6% | 3.3% |
| Wibaux County | 2.52 | 41.0 | 5.4% | 27.5% | 22.5% | 1973 | $963 | 22.5% | 96.0% | 1.7% |
| Fallon County | 2.35 | 37.0 | 6.7% | 30.6% | 20.7% | 1982 | $806 | 17.5% | 99.6% | 0.0% |
| Golden Valley County | 2.33 | 50.4 | 4.2% | 20.5% | 22.1% | 1957 | $612 | 22.4% | 96.5% | 3.9% |
| Garfield County | 2.50 | 43.3 | 3.0% | 27.8% | 40.8% | 1978 | $725 | 21.0% | 96.2% | 0.0% |
| Slope County | 2.05 | 54.1 | 5.9% | 19.3% | 18.0% | 1961 | $525 | 29.3% | 93.0% | 2.7% |
| Billings County | 2.46 | 41.8 | 3.2% | 22.1% | 25.5% | 1983 | $621 | 32.6% | 95.2% | 2.1% |
| Stark County | 2.43 | 35.3 | 11.3% | 33.2% | 14.9% | 1990 | $988 | 29.1% | 92.1% | 3.3% |
| Dunn County | 2.57 | 40.5 | 5.3% | 25.7% | 24.8% | 1984 | $911 | 26.7% | 94.1% | 3.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Traill County, ND · Cottle County, TX · Cotton County, OK · Covington City, VA · Craig County, VA · Crane County, TX · Crawford County, IN · Crittenden County, KY · Thomas County, KS · Thomas County, NE
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 Prairie 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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