Cascade County, Montana: commercial real estate data.
Cascade County, Montana had an estimated 84,523 residents on July 1, 2024, up 0.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 84,411, across 2,698 square miles. County output reached $5.71 bn in 2024, 2,472 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 80 7(a) approvals worth $31.9 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Cascade County
How many people live in Cascade County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202484,606
- Households35,615
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$67,690
- Median age38.6
- Median gross rent$939 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$265,300
- Home value to household income3.9 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income16.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher28.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree10.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over58,253
- Population under 1818,862
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over16,614
- Share 65 and over19.6 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6449,130
- Civilian labor force39,874
- Unemployment rate3.3 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over60.7 percent
- Rank by population among Montana counties5th of 56
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included694th of 3,222
Cascade County is the 5th largest of 56 Montana counties by population. A median home costs 3.9 times median household income, which is moderately unaffordable by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 19.6 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Cascade County
Is Cascade County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202484,523
- Census 2020 base population84,411
- Population change since the 2020 census base0.13 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024-102
- Births, 2024933
- Deaths, 20241,007
- Natural change, 2024-74
- Net domestic migration, 2024-23
- Net international migration, 20242
- Total net migration, 2024-21
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024565
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1781st of 3,144
The county has grown 0.13 percent since the 2020 census base. The population fell in 2024 from both sources: deaths exceeded births and more people left than moved in.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Cascade County
Where are people moving to Cascade County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving2,510
- People arriving, from those returns4,612
- Tax returns filed by households leaving2,426
- Net household movement84
- Adjusted gross income arriving$148.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$10.8 m
- Average income of an arriving household$59,339
- Average income of a leaving household$56,933
- Largest single originLewis and Clark County (101 households)
- Largest single destinationLewis and Clark County (118 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark County | 101 | 172 | $4.4 m |
| Missoula County | 90 | 136 | $3.5 m |
| Gallatin County | 88 | 141 | $4.1 m |
| Yellowstone County | 69 | 108 | $3.6 m |
| Flathead County | 61 | 112 | $3.0 m |
| Foreign - APO/FPO ZIPs | 51 | 119 | $2.8 m |
| Teton County | 46 | 79 | $2.5 m |
| Maricopa County | 44 | 67 | $2.0 m |
Households arriving report $2,406 more average income than households leaving, so the migration is raising local spending power rather than just moving it around. The largest single source of arrivals is Lewis and Clark County, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Cascade County
What is the Cascade County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$5.71 bn
- County GDP, 2023$5.45 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.8 percent
- GDP change over five years45.7 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Montana areas BEA publishes5th of 56
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes665th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$67,507
Output grew 4.8 percent in the latest year and 45.7 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Cascade County
Employment by industry in Cascade County
- Covered employment, annual average36,513
- Establishments reporting3,200
- Average annual pay$55,412
- Average weekly wage$1,066
- Health care and social assistance, employment7,130
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$62,468
- Retail trade, employment4,830
- Retail trade, average annual pay$38,658
- Accommodation and food services, employment4,248
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$23,602
- Construction, employment2,607
- Construction, average annual pay$75,152
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment1,749
- Finance and insurance, employment1,584
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 7,130 | 340 | $62,468 |
| Retail trade | 4,830 | 314 | $38,658 |
| Accommodation and food services | 4,248 | 245 | $23,602 |
| Construction | 2,607 | 350 | $75,152 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 1,749 | 223 | $50,503 |
| Finance and insurance | 1,584 | 182 | $85,292 |
| Wholesale trade | 1,499 | 171 | $71,559 |
| Manufacturing | 1,299 | 82 | $73,673 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,130 jobs, 19.5 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Cascade County
How many businesses are in Cascade County?
- Establishments, all industries2,472
- Employment at those establishments30,050
- Annual payroll$1.46 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents29.2
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against. County Business Patterns counts private establishments with paid employees in March 2023, while the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages above counts every unemployment-insured employer, public ones included, as a 2024 annual average, so the two establishment and employment counts differ.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cascade County
Building permits in Cascade County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 2024223
- Declared construction value permitted$68.7 m
- Single family units authorized164
- Multifamily units authorized59
- Multifamily share of units26.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$308,054
- Units authorized per 1,000 households6.3
Single-family homes are 73.5 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Cascade County
SBA loans in Cascade County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded80
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$31.9 m
- Average 7(a) approval$398,306
- Median 7(a) approval$106,400
- 10th percentile approval$11,800
- 90th percentile approval$998,850
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)539
- Jobs per approval6.7
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active19
- Distinct industries receiving approvals51
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer15.0 percent
- Loans on real estate terms12
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter64
- Franchise loans5
- Franchise share of approvals6.3 percent
- Leading industry by approval countResidential Remodelers (6)
- Most active lenderU.S. Bank, National Association (24)
- 504 approvals recorded51
- 504 gross approval dollars$30.1 m
- Average 504 approval$591,020
- Median 504 approval$414,000
- Distinct CDCs active6
- 504 jobs per approval7.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved12.6
- Most active CDCHigh Plains Financial, Inc. (32)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$62.0 m
The average approval of $398,306 sits well above the median of $106,400, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 15.0 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cascade County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Cascade County
Do SBA loans in Cascade County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full11
- Charged off1
- Status: Paid in full11
- Status: Cancelled14
- Status: Exempt from disclosure50
- Status: Charged off1
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed4
Only 12 loans have reached a final outcome, fewer than the 30 a charge-off rate needs, so no rate is published.
Compare against the national and state SBA charge-off rates, computed the same way over resolved loans only.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cascade County
SBA lending by place in Cascade County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending4
- Great Falls, approvals74
- Black Eagle, approvals3
- Neihart, approvals2
- Belt, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | 74 | $29,376,000 |
| Black Eagle | 3 | $117,000 |
| Neihart | 2 | $2,366,500 |
| Belt | 1 | $5,000 |
Great Falls accounts for 74 approvals against 3 in Black Eagle. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Cascade County
How large is Cascade County?
- Land area2,698 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Montana counties21st of 56
- Width, east to west66.1 mi
- Height, north to south60.4 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary5
- Residents per square mile of land31
- Establishments per square mile0.92
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Cascade County
Flood risk in Cascade County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Cascade County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 300008
- Community Rating System class of the county's own communityClass 8
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book5
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate80.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 6
- Communities carrying a CRS class3
- Radon levels in Cascade County, EPA zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
The county's own community in the status book, unincorporated Cascade County (community 300008), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries Community Rating System class 8, a flood insurance premium discount for policies written there. The EPA places Cascade County in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The zone is a screening prediction for the county and does not substitute for a test at an address. The best Community Rating System class among the county's communities is 6, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for policies written in that community. 80.0 percent of the county's listed communities participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, per Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26.
Federal Emergency Management Agency, NFIP Community Status Book (OpenFEMA), as of 2026-09-26. US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Traffic counts, zoning and the flood zone at an address are not on this page; they resolve at the address in the platform. How this page was built →
Feasibility studies
When a Cascade County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Cascade County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202484,606
- Households35,615
- Average household size2.38
- Median household income$67,690
- Median age38.6
Common questions
Cascade County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Cascade County, Montana?
The Census Bureau estimates 84,523 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 84,606, in 35,615 households, ranking 5th of 56 Montana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Cascade County's population growing?
The population has grown 0.13 percent since the 2020 census base of 84,411, to 84,523 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 933 births against 1,007 deaths, with net migration of -21. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Cascade County?
$67,690. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $265,300, which is 3.9 times income, and median gross rent is $939 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Cascade County?
2,472 establishments, employing 30,050 people with an annual payroll of $1.46 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Cascade County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 7,130 jobs, 19.5 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 36,513 jobs at an average annual pay of $55,412, or $1,066 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Cascade County?
80 7(a) approvals totaling $31.9 m since FY2020, across 19 lenders, with a median approval of $106,400, plus 51 504 approvals worth $30.1 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Cascade County?
223 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $68.7 m. Multifamily was 26.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Cascade County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Cascade County come from?
The largest single origin is Lewis and Clark County, with 101 households. Arriving households report an average income of $59,339 against $56,933 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Cascade County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Cascade County?
No. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame, to be confirmed locally.
Cascade County
Cities and places in Cascade.
24 Census places lie wholly or partly in Cascade County. 23 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked. The rest are named here and not linked, because the American Community Survey and the SBA record between them do not carry enough about them to write an honest page. A place existing is itself worth knowing, so nothing in the county is left out.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Falls | city | 60,329 | 74 | Wholly in this county |
| Malmstrom AFB | CDP | 4,302 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sun Prairie | CDP | 1,171 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Vaughn | CDP | 1,002 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ulm | CDP | 900 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Black Eagle | CDP | 781 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| Cascade | town | 572 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Belt | town | 559 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Simms | CDP | 334 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fort Shaw | CDP | 207 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Gibson Flats | CDP | 158 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Stockett | CDP | 155 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Pleasant Valley Colony | CDP | 137 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sand Coulee | CDP | 134 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Tracy | CDP | 133 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Sun River | CDP | 72 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Hardy | CDP | 64 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Big Stone Colony | CDP | 45 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cascade Colony | CDP | 44 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Neihart | town | 39 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Riceville | CDP | 26 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Centerville | CDP | 23 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Monarch | CDP | 22 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Fair Haven Colony | CDP | 0 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby