In Wheatland County, Montana, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Wheatland County, 28.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 93% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Wheatland County's score
In Wheatland County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 76.4. About three in ten adults aged 25 to 54 (28.8%, 2020 to 2024) aren't working, a higher share than in 86% of U.S. counties. Income and the safety net comes next, at 72.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Wheatland 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.
Wheatland County does better than most counties on two measures: renters paying half their income or more in rent (0.9%, 2020 to 2024) and people with a disability (11.4%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 76.4 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202665th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working28.8% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
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- 72.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line17.3% · 202477th percentile
- Children below the poverty line27.9% · 202488th percentile
- People with a disability11.4% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- People without health insurance17.9% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$47,920 · 202494th percentile
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- 49.2 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 rent0.9% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income28.0% · fiscal year 202793rd percentile
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- 37.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector14.6% · August 202517th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people145.8 · 202558th percentile
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- 25.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202516th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behindnot published for this county; scored at the state median · August 202516th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.2% · second quarter of 202643rd 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 Wheatland 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 Wheatland County, 29.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Wheatland County
Montana
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
Benefit checks' share of income in Wheatland County had its largest rise, from 22.4% in 2014 to 30.8% in 2019.
In Wheatland County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 29.8% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about a third more than benefit checks
In Wheatland County, Montana, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 29.8%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Wheatland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 7.8% in 2020 to 4.8% in 2021.
The share of households in Wheatland County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2019 and has since fallen to 6.1%
Low on the chart: 1.4% in 2012. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Wheatland County, Montana.
How Wheatland County has changed
Wheatland County's population had its largest drop, from 2,579 in 1969 to 2,416 in 1974.
Wheatland County's population fell by about a fifth from 1969 to 2024, reaching 2,058
High on the chart: 2,579 in 1969. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Wheatland County, Montana.
The number of jobs located in Wheatland County rose most sharply from its first year (523 in 1990) to 681 in 1995.
The number of jobs located in Wheatland County was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and is down 17% since
High on the chart: 681 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Wheatland County, Montana.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.1% | 2025 4.8% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.1% | 2024 17.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $17,876 | 2024 $47,920 |
The table uses 4.8% for 2025; the score uses 4.4% 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 Wheatland County's history
1907
Fire destroyed 24 buildings on north side of Harlowton's Main Street. Wikipedia
1917
Established February 22, 1917 with areas partitioned from Meagher and Sweet Grass counties. Wikipedia
1920
The county's largest recorded population was the 1920 Census count of 5,619. The 2020 Census counted 2,069, 37% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1975
10 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Wheatland County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Wheatland County beside its neighbors
Wheatland County scores higher than all five counties that border it. For the share of income from benefit checks, Wheatland County ranks 2nd of the six; Golden Valley County is highest, at 33.0%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wheatland County, MT | 53 | 17.3% | 29.8% |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 38 | 20.2% | 33.0% |
| Fergus County, MT | 18 | 12.3% | 23.8% |
| Meagher County, MT | 14 | 15.2% | 29.4% |
| Judith Basin County, MT | 11 | 12.3% | 22.9% |
| Sweet Grass County, MT | 6 | 9.8% | 21.6% |
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 Wheatland County the poorest county in Montana?
No, Wheatland County's poverty rate was 17.3% in 2024, 6th 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, Wheatland County ranks 9th of 56 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Wheatland 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 Wheatland 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 Wheatland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.