CountyScore

Powder River County

Montana · MT

#14 in Montana
75.7
County Score

County Report Card

About Powder River County, Montana

Top Performers in National Livability

Powder River County scores 75.7, more than 50% above the national median of 50.0. This strong ranking reflects excellent affordability, robust income potential, and outstanding risk management—a rare combination.

Second-Best Among Montana Counties

At 75.7, Powder River ranks second in this group behind Petroleum County and well above Montana's 72.1 state average. The county combines rural livability with economic opportunity, a difficult balance to achieve.

Highest Income and Lowest Rents

Powder River boasts a median household income of $68,009 (second-highest in the group) paired with a cost score of 86.8 and the lowest median rent at just $609/month. The risk score of 96.0 also signals exceptional environmental and economic stability.

Moderate Health Care Access

The health score of 66.8 is the lowest strength metric, suggesting limited access to specialists or advanced medical facilities. This gap may concern families with chronic health conditions or those seeking comprehensive health care options.

Perfect for Practical Earners

Powder River suits working families and independent professionals who want income growth without sacrificing affordability or stability. The combination of strong earnings potential and minimal housing costs creates maximum savings capacity for financially savvy households.

Score breakdown

5 dimensions have live data. 3 more coming as vertical sites launch.

Tax79Cost86.8SafetyComing SoonHealth66.8SchoolsComing SoonIncome27.8Risk96WaterComing Soon
🏛79
Property Tax
Effective property tax rate vs national benchmarks
TaxByCounty →
🏠86.8
Cost of Living
Median rent, home values, and housing affordability
CostByCounty →
💼27.8
Income & Jobs
Median household income and per capita earnings
IncomeByCounty →
🛡Coming Soon
Safety
Violent and property crime rates per 100K residents
❤66.8
Health
Life expectancy, uninsured rates, and health access
HealthByCounty →
🎓Coming Soon
Schools
Graduation rates, per-pupil spending, and attainment
⚡96
Disaster Risk
FEMA National Risk Index — flood, fire, tornado, and more
RiskByCounty →
💧Coming Soon
Water Quality
EPA drinking water health violations and safety grades

Explore this county

Property Taxtaxbycounty.comCost of Livingcostbycounty.comIncomeincomebycounty.com
Compare Powder River County with another county →

Counties with similar scores

Union County
Indiana
75.7
Median income: $79,500
Lincoln County
Minnesota
75.7
Median income: $67,715
Grant County
South Dakota
75.7
Median income: $73,818
Edmonson County
Kentucky
75.8
Median income: $54,512
Menifee County
Kentucky
75.8
Median income: $44,672

Deep Dives

Powder River County across the ByCounty Network

Detailed analysis from 5 data dimensions — each powered by a dedicated ByCounty site.

Property Tax in Powder River County

via TaxByCounty

Powder River County taxes above average

Powder River County's effective rate of 0.828% exceeds the national median of 0.84%, placing it in the 50th percentile nationally. The median property tax of $1,237 remains well below the national median of $2,690, reflecting this region's lower home values.

Above Montana's average tax rate

At 0.828%, Powder River County's effective rate runs above the Montana state average of 0.767%, ranking it among the higher-taxed counties statewide. Only a modest number of Montana counties exceed this rate.

Higher burden than most regional peers

Powder River County's 0.828% rate exceeds Musselshell (0.625%), Park (0.571%), and Powell (0.708%), though it trails Pondera (0.884%) and Prairie (0.855%). It ranks in the upper tier of the eight-county region analyzed.

Median home costs $1,237 yearly

A home valued at Powder River County's median of $149,400—the lowest among these eight counties—generates $1,237 in annual taxes at the 0.828% rate. Mortgage holders pay $1,290, while owners without mortgages pay $1,173.

Challenge overassessments cost-free

Even with modest home values, Powder River County's elevated tax rate means assessment accuracy directly affects your budget. If your home's assessed value exceeds recent neighborhood sales, you can file a free appeal—many rural Montana homeowners discover they're substantially overassessed.

Full property tax analysis on TaxByCounty

Cost of Living in Powder River County

via CostByCounty

Powder River County: rentability champion

Powder River County's rent-to-income ratio of just 10.8% ranks among the nation's most affordable and beats Montana's state average by 5.1 percentage points. At $609 monthly, rents consume the smallest share of income across this entire analysis—a genuine outlier for housing accessibility.

Montana's most affordable rental market

Powder River County's 10.8% rent-to-income ratio sits nearly 5 percentage points below Montana's 15.9% state average, making it the state's most affordable county by this metric. The median rent of $609 represents a 26% discount to the state median of $825, delivering exceptional rental value.

Lowest rents paired with strong income

Powder River County's $609 median rent is the cheapest in the regional cluster, $14 below Phillips County ($623), $160 below Petroleum County ($769), and $318 below Musselshell County ($865). Combined with the highest median household income of $68,009 among its neighbors, Powder River achieves superior affordability through both low costs and higher pay.

Renters enjoy exceptional value here

Renters pay just $609 monthly (10.8% of median household income of $68,009), while homeowners spend $713 monthly (12.6% of income). Powder River County reverses typical patterns: homeownership carries slightly higher burden than renting, yet both remain exceptionally affordable.

Powder River County: top choice for renters

If affordable housing is your goal, Powder River County delivers unmatched rental value at $609 monthly and 10.8% of income—the lowest burden in this entire analysis. The combination of low rents and the region's highest median income ($68,009) makes this county the standout choice for financial-conscious relocators.

Full cost of living analysis on CostByCounty

Income & Jobs in Powder River County

via IncomeByCounty

Powder River ranks in U.S. middle class

Powder River County's median household income of $68,009 trails the U.S. median of $74,755 by just 9%—a modest gap reflecting genuine middle-class earning power. The per capita income of $41,750 exceeds the national average, indicating broadly distributed wealth across households. This income profile ranks Powder River among Montana's stronger performers and competitive rural counties nationally.

Montana's income leader among peers

At $68,009, Powder River County's median household income ranks among Montana's highest, exceeding the state average of $62,295 by 9.2%. The per capita income of $41,750 substantially outpaces the state average of $35,700, demonstrating strong economic health across household structures. Powder River stands as an economic leader within Montana's rural county system.

Clear economic advantage in region

Powder River's $68,009 median income leads all neighbors: Park County ($66,607), Powell County ($63,432), Musselshell ($59,010), and Petroleum ($59,318). Only Powder River maintains income above $67,000 in its geographic cluster, a distinction reflecting energy sector employment and stable ranching operations. This regional advantage attracts workers and enables household financial security.

Excellent affordability and strong security

Powder River's median home value of $149,400 represents just 2.2 years of median household income—the best affordability ratio in its region—while the 10.8% rent-to-income ratio provides extraordinary housing security. At roughly $5,667 monthly household income before taxes, families have genuine discretionary spending and savings capacity. This combination creates an ideal environment for wealth building.

Accelerate wealth during peak earning years

Powder River County residents should capitalize on strong income-to-housing ratios by maximizing retirement contributions and investment accounts; the tax benefits compound significantly over working decades. Home equity here builds rapidly—consider strategic refinancing or HELOC strategies to fund education or business ventures. Energy sector workers should diversify income sources and build emergency reserves, as commodity prices create cyclical income risks.

Full income & jobs analysis on IncomeByCounty

Health in Powder River County

via HealthByCounty

Life expectancy solid, health concerns high

Powder River County residents live to 77.5 years, slightly below the US average of 78.8 years but notably above Montana's 76.3 years. Yet 18.6% report poor or fair health—the second-highest rate among these eight counties—revealing a disconnect between longevity and daily health experiences.

Good longevity masked by health struggles

Powder River County's 77.5-year life expectancy ranks above Montana's average, but its 18.6% poor/fair health rate ties for second-highest in the state sample, suggesting residents live longer but experience more chronic health challenges. This pattern warrants investigation into healthcare access and lifestyle factors.

Strong lifespan, weak health perception

Powder River County's 77.5 years exceeds Phillips (75.0) and Powell (75.8) but trails Park County's 78.1 years. Its 18.6% poor/fair health rate is the highest or near-highest among all measured neighbors, suggesting unique health stressors despite average-to-good longevity.

Uninsured and underserved

Powder River County's uninsured rate of 13.5% matches Pondera County as the joint-highest in this group, well above Montana's 11.9% average. Data on primary care and mental health provider availability is not currently published, suggesting this rural county may face acute healthcare workforce shortages.

Find affordable coverage today

With 13.5% uninsured, Powder River County residents need to prioritize health coverage as a foundation for better health. Healthcare.gov offers plans and financial assistance—take the first step toward protecting your family's health today.

Full health analysis on HealthByCounty

Disaster Risk in Powder River County

via RiskByCounty

Powder River County is exceptionally safe

Powder River County's composite risk score of 4.01 ranks among America's safest communities, with Very Low natural disaster exposure. The county's hazard profile is approximately 8% of typical national risk levels.

One of Montana's safest counties

Powder River County's score of 4.01 ranks as one of the lowest in Montana, well below the state average of 33.31. The county's risk exposure is roughly 88% lower than typical Montana communities.

Safest county in its region

Powder River County's risk score of 4.01 is lower than all nearby counties, including Musselshell (17.05), Phillips (34.51), and Petroleum (1.30). It represents an exceptionally stable natural hazard environment across southeastern Montana.

Wildfire is the primary seasonal threat

Wildfire risk of 87.98 is Powder River County's dominant hazard, while flood (7.82), tornado (7.28), and earthquake (17.97) risks all remain minimal. The county's rangeland landscape creates fire season vulnerability despite overall very low disaster exposure.

Wildfire insurance and seasonal vigilance

Ensure your homeowners policy includes wildfire coverage and maintain defensible space as your primary protective measures. Monitor fire season conditions and keep emergency evacuation plans current, as this is your county's only notable natural hazard.

Full disaster risk analysis on RiskByCounty

ByCounty Network

🏛Property Tax🏠Cost of Living💼Income & Jobs🛡Safety❤Health🎓Schools⚡Disaster Risk💧Water Quality

Data from U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS — informational only.