1st most populous of 56
With 171,583 residents in 2024, Yellowstone County ranks 1st by population among Montana's 56 counties and is home to 15.1% of the state's residents.
Yellowstone County is home to 171,583 people (2024 estimate) on 2,633 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.
Key indicators
Population
171,583
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
164,722
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+4.2%
2020–2024
Land area
2,633 mi²
6,820 km²
Population density
65.2 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
1,844
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
1,669
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+175
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+674
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$72,985
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$14.0 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$76,570
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
9.2%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
34.1%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
1.9%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$349,500
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.8%
BLS annual average, 2024
Historical data
Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.
Population
2000–2024171,583▲ 32%
U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.
Data summary
| Indicator | Value | Year and source |
|---|---|---|
| Population estimate | 171,583 | 2024 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2010 Census | 147,972 | 2010 · U.S. Census Bureau |
| Population, 2000 | 129,570 | July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal |
| Change since 2000 | +32.4% | 2000–2024 · Census |
| International migration | +61 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Domestic migration | +613 | 2024 · Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate | 10.7 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Death rate | 9.7 per 1,000 | 2024 · calculated |
| Population rank in Montana | 1st of 56 | 2024 · calculated |
| Per capita personal income | $72,985 | BEA, 2024 · official |
| Gross domestic product | $14.0 billion | BEA, current dollars, 2024 · official |
| Median household income | $76,570 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 34.1% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.9% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median home value | $349,500 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median gross rent | $1,131/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Median age | 39.0 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Households | 69,897 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.6% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official |
Yellowstone County in context
Comparable indicators for Yellowstone County, Montana and the United States.
| Indicator | County | Montana | U.S. | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population change 2020–2024 | +4.2% | +4.9% | +2.6% | Census Vintage 2024 |
| Birth rate (per 1,000) | 10.7 | 9.9 | 10.6 | 2024 |
| Death rate (per 1,000) | 9.7 | 9.9 | 9.1 | 2024 |
| Net migration rate (per 1,000) | 3.9 | 5.2 | 8.2 | 2024 |
| Population density (/mi²) | 65.2 | 7.8 | 96.3 | 2024 |
| Per capita personal income | $72,985 | $69,240 | $73,204 | BEA, 2024 |
| Median household income | $76,570 | $72,509 | $80,734 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Poverty rate | 9.2% | 11.5% | 12.5% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Bachelor’s degree or higher | 34.1% | 35.2% | 35.7% | Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.9% | 2.3% | 14.1% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median home value | $349,500 | $375,800 | $332,700 | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median gross rent | $1,131/month | $1,081/month | $1,413/month | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Median age | 39.0 years | 40.4 years | 38.9 years | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.6% | 69.2% | 65.2% | ACS 2020–2024 5-year |
Cities & towns
2 cities · choose how to order them
Billings
121,483 residents
Laurel
7,300 residents
Did you know? Yellowstone County
A quarter century of change
Its population went from 129,570 in 2000 to 171,583 in 2024, a change of +32.4%, compared with +25.8% for Montana as a whole.
Births and deaths
In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 1,844 births and 1,669 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 175.
Record population
Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 171,583.
1st in density
Yellowstone County has about 65.2 residents per square mile of land, ranking 1st of 56 counties; Montana averages 7.8.
Household income rank
With a median household income of $76,570 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 7th of 56 Montana counties; the state median is $72,509.
Size of the economy
Its economy produced $14.0 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 1st largest among 56 Montana counties.
Latest economic growth
Real GDP grew 5.7% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).
Sources and methodology
- U.S. Census Bureau — County population totals and components, Vintage 2024
- U.S. Census Bureau — County estimates 2010–2020
- U.S. Census Bureau — Intercensal estimates 2000–2010
- U.S. Census Bureau — Gazetteer files (land area)
- U.S. Census Bureau — American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional economic accounts
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — LAUS