Lake County, Montana: commercial real estate data.
Lake County, Montana had an estimated 33,403 residents on July 1, 2024, up 7.3 percent since the 2020 census base of 31,131, across 1,490 square miles. County output reached $1.35 bn in 2024, 991 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 57 7(a) approvals worth $21.3 m since FY2020.
Underlined figures are computed by MMCG Analytics, not published by the agency.
Lake County
How many people live in Lake County
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202432,561
- Households12,576
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$63,360
- Median age44.3
- Median gross rent$901 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$421,800
- Home value to household income6.7 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income17.1 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher31.5 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree11.0 percent
- Adults 25 and over23,089
- Population under 187,167
- Share under 1822.0 percent
- Population 65 and over7,894
- Share 65 and over24.2 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 6417,500
- Civilian labor force14,537
- Unemployment rate5.7 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over57.2 percent
- Rank by population among Montana counties9th of 56
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents, Puerto Rico included1408th of 3,222
Lake County is the 9th largest of 56 Montana counties by population. A median home costs 6.7 times median household income, which is severely unaffordable by national standards. Residents 65 and over outnumber those under 18, at 24.2 percent against 22.0 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.
Lake County
Is Lake County's population growing?
- Population, July 1, 202433,403
- Census 2020 base population31,131
- Population change since the 2020 census base7.30 percent
- Population change, 2023 to 2024148
- Births, 2024282
- Deaths, 2024356
- Natural change, 2024-74
- Net domestic migration, 2024224
- Net international migration, 2024-2
- Total net migration, 2024222
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 20242,418
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents291st of 3,144
The county has grown 7.30 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.
Lake County
Where are people moving to Lake County from?
- Tax returns filed by households arriving1,026
- People arriving, from those returns1,921
- Tax returns filed by households leaving732
- Net household movement294
- Adjusted gross income arriving$132.4 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$84.6 m
- Average income of an arriving household$129,081
- Average income of a leaving household$65,381
- Largest single originFlathead County (148 households)
- Largest single destinationFlathead County (118 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead County | 148 | 275 | $13.5 m |
| Missoula County | 141 | 247 | $7.7 m |
| Gallatin County | 24 | 43 | $1.2 m |
Households arriving report $63,700 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 Flathead 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.
Lake County
What is the Lake County economy?
- County GDP, 2024$1.35 bn
- County GDP, 2023$1.26 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20247.8 percent
- GDP change over five years44.2 percent
- Rank by GDP among the Montana areas BEA publishes9th of 56
- Rank by GDP among the US county areas BEA publishes1592nd of 3,127
- GDP per resident$41,611
Output grew 7.8 percent in the latest year and 44.2 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.
Lake County
Employment by industry in Lake County
- Covered employment, annual average9,768
- Establishments reporting1,300
- Average annual pay$50,280
- Average weekly wage$967
- Health care and social assistance, employment1,252
- Health care and social assistance, average annual pay$56,383
- Retail trade, employment1,182
- Retail trade, average annual pay$36,519
- Accommodation and food services, employment805
- Accommodation and food services, average annual pay$20,572
- Manufacturing, employment748
- Manufacturing, average annual pay$45,631
- Construction, employment611
- Professional, scientific and technical services, employment304
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 1,252 | 124 | $56,383 |
| Retail trade | 1,182 | 90 | $36,519 |
| Accommodation and food services | 805 | 100 | $20,572 |
| Manufacturing | 748 | 53 | $45,631 |
| Construction | 611 | 234 | $46,649 |
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 304 | 170 | $75,465 |
| Other services, except public administration | 292 | 89 | $34,053 |
| Finance and insurance | 179 | 36 | $59,720 |
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,252 jobs, 12.8 percent of covered employment.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Lake County
How many businesses are in Lake County?
- Establishments, all industries991
- Employment at those establishments7,817
- Annual payroll$367.7 m
- Establishments per 1,000 residents30.4
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.
Lake County
Building permits in Lake County
- Housing units authorized by permit, 202419
- Declared construction value permitted$3.7 m
- Single family units authorized11
- Multifamily units authorized8
- Multifamily share of units42.1 percent
- Average declared value per unit$193,132
- Units authorized per 1,000 households1.5
Multifamily is 42.1 percent of units authorized, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Lake County
SBA loans in Lake County (7(a) and 504)
- 7(a) approvals recorded57
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$21.3 m
- Average 7(a) approval$373,418
- Median 7(a) approval$170,000
- 10th percentile approval$28,200
- 90th percentile approval$1,482,440
- Largest single approval$2,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)432
- Jobs per approval7.6
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active13
- Distinct industries receiving approvals45
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer19.3 percent
- Loans on real estate terms11
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter41
- Franchise loans2
- Franchise share of approvals3.5 percent
- Most active lenderValley Bank of Ronan (36)
- 504 approvals recorded5
- 504 gross approval dollars$2.8 m
- Average 504 approval$552,800
- Median 504 approval$320,000
- Distinct CDCs active2
- 504 jobs per approval6.4
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.6
- Most active CDCBig Sky Economic Development Corporation (4)
- Combined SBA approval dollars, 7(a) FY2020 to FY2026 and 504 FY2010 to FY2026$24.0 m
The average approval of $373,418 sits well above the median of $170,000, pulled up by a few larger deals, so the median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here gets. Only 19.3 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.
Lake County
SBA loan default and charge-off rates in Lake County
Do SBA loans in Lake County get paid back?
- Loans with a final outcome recorded12
- Paid in full12
- Charged off0
- Status: Paid in full12
- Status: Exempt from disclosure42
- Status: Cancelled3
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.
Lake County
SBA lending by place in Lake County
- Borrower cities with recorded lending9
- Polson, approvals24
- Ronan, approvals15
- St. Ignatius, approvals8
- Arlee, approvals4
- Charlo, approvals2
- Rollins, approvals1
| Borrower city | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Polson | 24 | $11,794,100 |
| Ronan | 15 | $3,754,900 |
| St. Ignatius | 8 | $1,763,300 |
| Arlee | 4 | $844,000 |
| Charlo | 2 | $543,500 |
| Rollins | 1 | $2,000,000 |
| Dayton | 1 | $250,000 |
| Pablo | 1 | $210,000 |
| 1 other borrower city | 1 | $125,000 |
Polson accounts for 24 approvals against 15 in Ronan. 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.
Lake County
How large is Lake County?
- Land area1,490 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Montana counties46th of 56
- Width, east to west46.6 mi
- Height, north to south63.1 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary3
- Residents per square mile of land22
- Establishments per square mile0.67
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.
Lake County
Flood risk in Lake County
- Participation of the county's own NFIP community Lake County, unincorporated areasParticipating, community 300155
- Communities in the county in the NFIP Community Status Book4
- Of those, participating in the NFIP4
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Communities carrying a CRS class0
- Radon levels in Lake 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 Lake County (community 300155), participates in the National Flood Insurance Program and carries no Community Rating System class, so no CRS premium discount applies there. The EPA places Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population, American Community Survey 2020-202432,561
- Households12,576
- Average household size2.59
- Median household income$63,360
- Median age44.3
Common questions
Lake County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Lake County, Montana?
The Census Bureau estimates 33,403 residents on July 1, 2024 (US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024). The American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimate is 32,561, in 12,576 households, ranking 9th of 56 Montana counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Lake County's population growing?
The population has grown 7.30 percent since the 2020 census base of 31,131, to 33,403 on July 1, 2024. In 2024 there were 282 births against 356 deaths, with net migration of 222. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Lake County?
$63,360. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $421,800, which is 6.7 times income, and median gross rent is $901 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are in Lake County?
991 establishments, employing 7,817 people with an annual payroll of $367.7 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 Lake County?
Health care and social assistance is the largest private sector at 1,252 jobs, 12.8 percent of covered employment. Covered employment averages 9,768 jobs at an average annual pay of $50,280, or $967 a week. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Lake County?
57 7(a) approvals totaling $21.3 m since FY2020, across 13 lenders, with a median approval of $170,000, plus 5 504 approvals worth $2.8 m since FY2010. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
How many building permits were issued in Lake County?
19 housing units were authorized by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $3.7 m. Multifamily was 42.1 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Lake 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 Lake County come from?
The largest single origin is Flathead County, with 148 households. Arriving households report an average income of $129,081 against $65,381 for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Lake 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 Lake 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.
Lake County
Cities and places in Lake.
23 Census places lie wholly or partly in Lake County. All 23 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polson | city | 5,428 | 24 | Wholly in this county |
| Ronan | city | 2,001 | 15 | Wholly in this county |
| Pablo | CDP | 1,632 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| St. Ignatius | town | 977 | 8 | Wholly in this county |
| Woods Bay | CDP | 835 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Arlee | CDP | 812 | 4 | Wholly in this county |
| Lindisfarne | CDP | 533 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Finley Point | CDP | 479 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kerr | CDP | 463 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Charlo | CDP | 306 | 2 | Wholly in this county |
| Elmo | CDP | 290 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Kings Point | CDP | 274 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Bear Dance | CDP | 220 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Jette | CDP | 218 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Swan Lake | CDP | 211 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Big Arm | CDP | 190 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rocky Point | CDP | 151 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Ravalli | CDP | 146 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Rollins | CDP | 115 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Dayton | CDP | 88 | 1 | Wholly in this county |
| Lake Mary Ronan | CDP | 80 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Kicking Horse | CDP | 59 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
| Turtle Lake | CDP | 55 | None recorded | Wholly in this county |
Nearby