Poverty and living standards in Montana, United States: official figures
The Census Bureau estimates that 10.4% of people in Montana lived below the federal poverty line in 2024, about 116,104 people; joint 17th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 12.1%).
Has poverty in Montana gone up or down?
In 2019 the estimate for Montana was 12.6% (130,974 people), so the rate is down 2.2 percentage points over five years; the national rate moved from 12.3% to 12.1%.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children live in poverty in Montana?
11.7% of children under 18 in Montana were in poverty in 2024, about 26,628 children; joint 13th lowest among the 50 states and DC. For children under 5 the rate was 12.5% (U.S.: 15.5% for under-18s, 16.5% for under-5s).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow unequal are incomes in Montana?
The Gini index of household income inequality in Montana was 0.4581 in 2024 (0 means every household has the same income, 1 means one household has it all); 19th least unequal among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 0.4809).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many renters in Montana are cost-burdened?
42.7% of renting households in Montana spent 30% or more of their income on rent and utilities in 2024, and 18.9% spent half or more; the 30% share is 4th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 51.8%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many households in Montana get food stamps?
7.0% of households in Montana (32,677) said they received SNAP food benefits at some point in the previous 12 months in the 2024 American Community Survey; 6th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 11.8%). 44% of those households had incomes below the poverty line, and 71% of households below the poverty line did not receive SNAP.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many people get SNAP in Montana?
An average of 79,828 people in Montana received SNAP benefits each month in fiscal year 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), down 2.0% on fiscal 2024 (81,495), according to USDA administrative data; nationally the average was 42.14 million.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow much are SNAP benefits in Montana?
SNAP benefits paid in Montana totaled $164.43 million in fiscal 2025, an average of $171.65 per person per month (U.S.: $189.36); 7th smallest average benefit among the 50 states and DC.
Source: USDA Food and Nutrition Service · saved copyHow many homeless people are there in Montana?
Local counts on a single night in January 2025 found 2,263 people experiencing homelessness in Montana, up 12.7% on 2024 (2,008) and up 66.8% on 2019 (1,357); 7th smallest count among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 745,652).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many homeless people in Montana sleep outside?
Of those counted in Montana in January 2025, 1,557 were in emergency shelters or transitional housing and 706 (31.2%) were unsheltered, sleeping outside or in places not meant for housing; 22nd highest unsheltered share among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 35.7%).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyWho is homeless in Montana?
The January 2025 count in Montana included 677 people in families with children, 400 children under 18, 512 chronically homeless individuals and 160 veterans.
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development · saved copyHow many households in Montana are food insecure?
On average over 2021 to 2023, 10.6% of households in Montana were food insecure, meaning they had difficulty at some time in the year providing enough food because of a lack of resources; joint 18th lowest among the 50 states and DC and not statistically different from the national average of 12.2%, according to USDA.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyIs food insecurity in Montana getting worse?
4.2% of households in Montana had very low food security in 2021-23, with some members eating less or skipping meals. Overall food insecurity was 10.4% in 2018-20 and 11.8% in 2011-13; the move from 2018-20 to 2021-23 is +0.2 percentage points, a change USDA does not rate as statistically significant.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service · saved copyHow Montana compares with other states
People in poverty (all ages) (2024)
Montana ranks 35 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | People in poverty (all ages) |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Maine | 10.6% |
| 33 | South Dakota | 10.5% |
| 34 | Idaho | 10.4% |
| 35 | Montana | 10.4% |
| 36 | Wisconsin | 10.3% |
| 37 | Alaska | 10.3% |
| 38 | Connecticut | 10.1% |
Children under 18 in poverty (2024)
Montana ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau SAIPE model estimates
| Rank | Region | Children under 18 in poverty |
|---|---|---|
| 35 | South Dakota | 11.9% |
| 36 | New Jersey | 11.8% |
| 37 | Virginia | 11.8% |
| 38 | Montana | 11.7% |
| 39 | North Dakota | 11.7% |
| 40 | Nebraska | 11.6% |
| 41 | Washington | 11.5% |
Gini index of household income inequality (2024)
Montana ranks 33 of 51, highest first. 0 = perfect equality, 1 = one household has all income
| Rank | Region | Gini index of household income inequality |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Arizona | 0.4623 |
| 31 | Colorado | 0.4611 |
| 32 | Wyoming | 0.4609 |
| 33 | Montana | 0.4581 |
| 34 | North Dakota | 0.4570 |
| 35 | Maine | 0.4566 |
| 36 | Maryland | 0.4559 |
Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent (2024)
Montana ranks 48 of 51, highest first. Share of renter households for which the ratio can be computed
| Rank | Region | Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Kansas | 43.4% |
| 46 | Iowa | 43.2% |
| 47 | Wyoming | 42.9% |
| 48 | Montana | 42.7% |
| 49 | South Dakota | 41.9% |
| 50 | Alaska | 41.5% |
| 51 | North Dakota | 36.1% |
Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months (2024)
Montana ranks 46 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey
| Rank | Region | Households that received SNAP in the past 12 months |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Iowa | 8.2% |
| 44 | Idaho | 7.2% |
| 45 | South Dakota | 7.1% |
| 46 | Montana | 7.0% |
| 47 | New Hampshire | 6.5% |
| 48 | North Dakota | 6.4% |
| 49 | Kansas | 5.9% |
Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) (2021-2023)
Montana ranks 34 of 51, highest first. Low or very low food security
| Rank | Region | Households with food insecurity (average 2021-23) |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Pennsylvania | 10.8% |
| 32 | Wisconsin | 10.7% |
| 33 | Kansas | 10.6% |
| 34 | Montana | 10.6% |
| 35 | Maryland | 10.4% |
| 36 | Connecticut | 10.4% |
| 37 | Alaska | 10.4% |
People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) (2025)
Montana ranks 45 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | People experiencing homelessness (one night in January) |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Maine | 2,413 |
| 43 | New Hampshire | 2,406 |
| 44 | Rhode Island | 2,373 |
| 45 | Montana | 2,263 |
| 46 | West Virginia | 1,925 |
| 47 | Delaware | 1,573 |
| 48 | South Dakota | 1,450 |
Share of homeless people who were unsheltered (2025)
Montana ranks 23 of 51, highest first. HUD point-in-time count
| Rank | Region | Share of homeless people who were unsheltered |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | South Carolina | 32.4% |
| 21 | Missouri | 31.5% |
| 22 | Kansas | 31.2% |
| 23 | Montana | 31.2% |
| 24 | North Carolina | 30.9% |
| 25 | Colorado | 30.4% |
| 26 | New Hampshire | 27.1% |
People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) (FY2025)
Montana ranks 45 of 51, highest first. USDA FNS National Data Bank
| Rank | Region | People receiving SNAP (monthly average, FY2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | District of Columbia | 140,907 |
| 43 | Idaho | 133,123 |
| 44 | Delaware | 118,828 |
| 45 | Montana | 79,828 |
| 46 | New Hampshire | 75,857 |
| 47 | South Dakota | 75,176 |
| 48 | Vermont | 64,802 |
More on Montana: overview · economy and jobs · health · education and schools · government budget · the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gini index of income inequality (B19083), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 dc8a2b21190b…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Receipt of food stamps/SNAP by poverty status for households (B22003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 53dc663e0426…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Gross rent as a percentage of household income (B25070), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 edf1abe1970b…)
- USDA Economic Research Service: Household Food Security in the United States in 2023 (ERR-337), tables 4 and 5: food insecurity by State, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c0eebe273d83…)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: 2007-2025 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness by State (2025 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report, Part 1), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c04ebcbe51c8…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2024 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 cb52c47d75c1…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): 2019 poverty and median household income, states and counties, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 229d90cb3e05…)
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service: SNAP Monthly State Participation and Benefit Summary, fiscal years 1969 to current (FY24.xlsx and FY25.xlsx), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 d31418fd3b4b…)
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