Cost of Living in Petroleum County, Montana
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Petroleum County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Petroleum County ranks #774 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 25%)
Sourced county brief
Petroleum County GRAPI Below Montana State Mean
Official GRAPI in Petroleum County was estimated at 19.2%, which is 4.9 percentage points below the Montana unweighted county mean of 24.1%. Median gross rent is $800, compared to the state unweighted mean of $842. Median home value is $201,400, below the state unweighted mean of $276,877. Median selected monthly owner costs are $657, which is below the state unweighted mean of $842. Renter median income was estimated at $48,333. The canonical rent-to-income percentage reported here is the official ACS B25071 GRAPI estimate. All metrics are derived from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year data release. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Petroleum County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 19.2% of renter household income in Petroleum County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $800 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $657. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $32,000 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Montana unweighted mean of county median rents is $842 per month. Petroleum County's $800 median is 5.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Petroleum County
Rent Burden
15.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,405
per month
Owner Cost Burden
13.1%
of gross income
The median home in Petroleum County may be a stretch
Median home value is $201,400. Estimated monthly cost: $1,608 vs. your max of $1,405.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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