Petroleum County, MT

This county of 552 residents needs 18 more housing units over the next five years.

Housing snapshot

Population
552 (2026)
Households
224
Median household income
$72,520 (2026)
Typical home value
$201,362
Owner-occupied
52%
Five-year housing need
18 units

Comparison to other Montana counties

Petroleum County: $72,520 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$49K >$105K
Petroleum County: None jobs to household ratio
<0.47 >1.53
Petroleum County: No permit data
<0% >6.3%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

At $201,362, homes in Petroleum County, MT cost well below the Montana average of $296,624. Petroleum County, MT's median household income of $72,520 comfortably exceeds what is needed to afford the typical home, making this a relatively affordable market.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

With roughly 224 households, Petroleum County, MT is growing modestly at 0.8% per year.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Petroleum County, MT is heavily oriented toward detached single-family, which makes up 77% of units. Petroleum County, MT is roughly split between owners and renters, at 52% owner-occupied.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How do these communities compare to each other?