Unemployment in Richland County, Montana, is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties
In Richland County, 2.6% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 89% of U.S. counties.
What drives Richland County's score
In Richland County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 49.2. Jobs are the lowest part, at 8.1.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Richland County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Richland County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 49.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector24.1% · August 202553rd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people116.4 · 202544th percentile
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- 32.1 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.5% · August 202517th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.9% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.9% · second quarter of 202632nd percentile
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- 19.6 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent4.3% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.3% · fiscal year 202734th percentile
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- 17.5 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.8% · 202420th percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.4% · 202419th percentile
- People with a disability11.9% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- People without health insurance4.7% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,961 · 202417th percentile
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- 8.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20266th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working13.4% · 2020 to 20249th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Richland County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Richland County, 17.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Richland County
Montana
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Richland County fell most sharply on the way to its 2014 low, from 14.9% in 2009 to 7.3% in 2014.
In Richland County, benefit checks' share of income has nearly doubled since 1969, reaching 14.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about four times as much as benefit checks
In Richland County, Montana, benefit checks' share of income nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 14.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Richland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 6.1% in 2012 to 4.1% in 2013.
The share of households in Richland County getting SNAP food aid fell from 2009 to 2024, reaching 4.4%, with its low point on the chart in 2019
Low on the chart: 3.2% in 2019. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Richland County, Montana.
How Richland County has changed
Richland County's population had its largest drop, from 13,599 in 1984 to 11,016 in 1989.
Richland County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 13,599 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Richland County, Montana.
The number of jobs located in Richland County had its largest drop, from 6,329 in 2015 to 5,110 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Richland County was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 6,329 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Richland County, Montana.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.3% | 2025 2.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.4% | 2024 9.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $27,078 | 2024 $81,961 |
The table uses 2.5% for 2025; the score uses 2.6% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Richland County's history
1909
Lower Yellowstone Irrigation Project completed, built dam and 115.2 km main canal. Wikipedia
1914
Created May 27, 1914 from part of Dawson County. Wikipedia
1924
Holly Sugar Corporation opened sugar refinery for processing locally grown sugar beets. Wikipedia
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 12,243. The 2020 Census counted 11,491, 94% of the peak. Census Bureau
2000
Elm Coulee Oil Field discovery began oil exploration and production. Wikipedia
2023
Holly Sugar Corporation refinery closed. Wikipedia
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Since 1997
8 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Richland County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Richland County beside its neighbors
All six counties that border Richland County, in Montana and North Dakota, score higher than it does. For the share of income from benefit checks, Richland County ranks 5th of the seven; Roosevelt County is highest, at 36.4%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roosevelt County, MT | 74 | 22.8% | 36.4% |
| McKenzie County, ND | 22 | 8.2% | 7.4% |
| Wibaux County, MT | 19 | 11.5% | 28.5% |
| Williams County, ND | 17 | 7.9% | 9.5% |
| Dawson County, MT | 16 | 12.0% | 25.2% |
| McCone County, MT | 14 | 13.6% | 27.1% |
| Richland County, MT | 10 | 9.8% | 14.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Richland County the poorest county in Montana?
No, Richland County's poverty rate was 9.8% in 2024, 43rd highest of 56 in Montana (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Glacier County, at 25.9%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Richland County ranks 48th of 56 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Richland County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Richland County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Richland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.