The Town Files

Carbon County, Montana

11,116 people. The median home is worth $420,800 (typical Montana town: $249,800) and the median household earns $80,261.

Towns in Carbon County

Towns in Carbon County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Red Lodge2,257$380,700$55,75059.7
Bridger662$250,000$42,89148.0
Joliet577$235,500$77,39638.5

People and housing

Carbon CountyTypical Montana town
Median home value$420,800$249,800
Median rent$844$893
Median household income$80,261$63,249
Median age50.440.6
Bachelor's degree or higher34.6%25.0%
Below the poverty line7.8%10.9%

Jobs and pay

3,052 jobs in 2024, average pay $47,497 a year.

Largest industries in Carbon CountyHotels & restaurants545 jobs · $25,503Retail292 jobs · $33,845Health care & social assistan…251 jobs · $50,794Agriculture, forestry & fishi…232 jobs · $77,827Construction196 jobs · $49,607Arts & recreation180 jobs · $24,259
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Carbon County0%2%4%6%8%2000200420082012201620202023 2.8%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 717 storm events in Carbon County from 1996 to 2026, with 14 deaths.

Storm events in Carbon County by type since 1996Hail104Flood9Drought6Wildfire10Avalanche10High Wind69Heavy Rain13Heavy Snow99Flash Flood12Winter Storm341
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Carbon County has been included in 13 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
April 7, 2026Straight-Line WindsDR-4902: Severe Winter Storm And Straight-Line Winds
October 11, 2023FloodDR-4745: Flooding
June 16, 2022FloodDR-4655: Severe Storm And Flooding
June 16, 2021FireFM-5392: Robertson Draw Fire
March 31, 2020BiologicalDR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3476: Covid-19
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).