Jefferson County, Montana: commercial real estate data.
Jefferson County, Montana had an estimated 13,304 residents on July 1, 2024, up 10.1 percent since the 2020 census base of 12,082, across 1,656 square miles. County output reached $392.8 m in 2024, 342 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 16 7(a) approvals worth $11.4 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Jefferson County
How many people live in Jefferson County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202412,774
- Households4,996
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$95,490
- Median age47.1
- Median gross rent$925 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$446,900
- Home value to household income4.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income11.6 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher32.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over9,426
- Population under 182,555
- Share under 1820.0 percent
- Population 65 and over2,961
- Share 65 and over23.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 647,258
- Civilian labor force6,445
- Unemployment rate4.2 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over63.1 percent
- Rank by population among Montana counties16th of 56
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included2300th of 3,222
Jefferson County is the 16th largest of 56 Montana counties by population. A median home costs 4.7 times median household income, which is seriously unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 23.2 percent against 20.0 percent, which points demand at health care, services and single story product rather than schools.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Jefferson County
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202413,304
- Census 2020 base population12,082
- Population change since the 2020 census base10.11 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024218
- Births, 2024111
- Deaths, 2024138
- Natural change, 2024-27
- Net domestic migration, 2024244
- Net international migration, 20243
- Total net migration, 2024247
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20241,303
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents145th of 3,144
The county has grown 10.11 percent since the 2020 census base. Deaths exceeded births in 2024 and the population still grew, so all of the growth came from people moving in. A market held up by migration is more sensitive to a change in relative cost than one growing from household formation.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Jefferson County
Where are people moving to Jefferson County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving551
- People arriving, from those returns1,103
- Tax returns filed by households leaving382
- Net household movement169
- Adjusted gross income arriving$52.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$26.3 m
- Average income of an arriving household$95,078
- Average income of a leaving household$68,233
- Largest single originLewis and Clark County (160 households)
- Largest single destinationLewis and Clark County (100 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark County | 160 | 341 | $14.3 m |
| Gallatin County | 66 | 139 | $6.7 m |
| Silver Bow County | 37 | 72 | $4.0 m |
Households arriving report $26,845 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.
Jefferson County
What is the Jefferson County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$392.8 m
- County GDP, 2023$366.3 m
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.2 percent
- GDP change over five years46.5 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Montana areas BEA publishes30th of 56
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes2559th of 3,127
- GDP per resident$30,750
Output grew 7.2 percent in the latest year and 46.5 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.
Jefferson County
Employment by industry in Jefferson County
- Covered employment, annual average2,711
- Establishments reporting495
- Average annual pay$54,570
- Average weekly wage$1,049
- Construction, employment411
- Construction, average annual pay$56,492
- Retail trade, employment183
- Retail trade, average annual pay$31,879
- Manufacturing, employment182
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$77,064
- Administrative and support and waste management services, employment160
- Administrative and support and waste management services, average annual pay$62,175
- Other services, except public administration, employment69
- Transportation and warehousing, employment53
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 411 | 102 | $56,492 |
| Retail trade | 183 | 26 | $31,879 |
| Manufacturing | 182 | 14 | $77,064 |
| Administrative and support and waste management services | 160 | 34 | $62,175 |
| Other services, except public administration | 69 | 33 | $38,338 |
| Transportation and warehousing | 53 | 13 | $37,410 |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 42 | 13 | $44,461 |
| Finance and insurance | 39 | 16 | $62,441 |
Construction is the largest private sector at 411 jobs, 15.2 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Jefferson County
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
- Establishments, all industries342
- Employment at those establishments1,959
- Annual payroll$90.4 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents26.8
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.
Jefferson County
Building permits in Jefferson County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202413
- Declared construction value permitted$4.7 m
- Single family units authorized13
- Multifamily units authorized0
- Multifamily share of units0.0 percent
- Average declared value per unit$361,818
- Units authorized per 1,000 households2.6
Single-family homes are 100.0 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is predominantly single-family.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Jefferson County
SBA loans in Jefferson County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded16
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$11.4 m
- Average 7(a) approval$715,081
- Median 7(a) approval$377,500
- Largest single approval$4,079,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)354
- Jobs per approval22.1
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active9
- Distinct industries receiving approvals13
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer6.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms1
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter15
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals12.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countPharmacy Benefit Management and Other Third Party Administration of Insurance and Pension Funds (3)
- 504 approvals recorded3
- 504 gross approval dollars$1.2 m
- Average 504 approval$388,000
- Median 504 approval$219,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval7.0
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved18.0
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$12.6 m
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.
Jefferson County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Jefferson County
Do SBA loans in Jefferson County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded4
- Paid in full4
- Charged off0
- Status: Cancelled2
- Status: Exempt from disclosure9
- Status: Paid in full4
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed1
Only 4 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.
Jefferson County
SBA lending by place in Jefferson County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending5
- Clancy, approvals6
- Boulder, approvals4
- Whitehall, approvals3
- Montana City, approvals2
- Cardwell, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Clancy | 6 | $5,684,000 |
| Boulder | 4 | $3,289,600 |
| Whitehall | 3 | $1,656,700 |
| Montana City | 2 | $805,000 |
| Cardwell | 1 | $6,000 |
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Jefferson County
How large is Jefferson County?
- Land area1,656 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Montana counties42nd of 56
- Width, east to west44 mi
- Height, north to south56.7 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land8
- Establishments per square mile0.21
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.
Jefferson County
Flood risk in Jefferson County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Jefferson County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 300154
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book3
- Of those, participating in the NFIP3
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Jefferson 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 Jefferson County (community 300154), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Jefferson 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. 100.0 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202412,774
- Households4,996
- Average household size2.56
- Median household income$95,490
- Median age47.1
Common questions
Jefferson County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Jefferson County, Montana?
The Census Bureau estimates 13,304 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 12,774, in 4,996 households, ranking 16th of 56 Montana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Jefferson County's population growing?
The population has grown 10.11 percent since the 2020 census base of 12,082, to 13,304 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 111 births against 138 deaths, with net migration of 247. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Jefferson County?
$95,490. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $446,900, which is 4.7 times income, and median gross rent is $925 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Jefferson County?
342 establishments, employing 1,959 people with an annual payroll of $90.4 m. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is employment by industry in Jefferson County?
Construction is the largest private sector at 411 jobs, 15.2 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 2,711 jobs at an average annual pay of $54,570, or $1,049 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Jefferson County?
16 7(a) approvals totaling $11.4 m since FY2020, across 9 lenders, with a median approval of $377,500, plus 3 504 approvals worth $1.2 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Jefferson County?
13 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $4.7 m. Multifamily was 0.0 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Jefferson 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 Jefferson County come from?
The largest single origin is Lewis and Clark County, with 160 households. Arriving households report an average income of $95,078 against $68,233 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County
Cities and places in Jefferson.
10 Census places lie wholly or partly in Jefferson County. All 10 carry enough published place level data for a page of their own and are linked.
| Place | Type | Population | SBA 7(a) approvals, projects in this county | Lies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana City | CDP | 3,092 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Clancy | CDP | 1,874 | 6 | Wholly in this county |
| Boulder | city | 1,284 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Whitehall | town | 1,156 | 3 | Wholly in this county |
| South Hills | CDP | 620 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jefferson City | CDP | 533 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Basin | CDP | 352 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rader Creek | CDP | 310 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Elkhorn | CDP | 34 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Cardwell | CDP | 30 | 1 | Wholly in this county |