Population
8,692
2025
−2.6% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Dawson County, MT: population growth, jobs and income
Dawson County lost 47 residents between 2024 and 2025 (−0.5%).
Dawson County had an estimated 8,692 residents in 2025, down 2.6% (229 fewer people) since 2020. That is slower than Montana as a whole (+5.3%), and the 50th fastest growth of 52 counties in Montana.
Data as of 2025 · updated
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In the Dawson County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Dawson County, ranked against Montana and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$815/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes17.5%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months02025-10/2026-09
- Rent growth, 5 yearsIn the report
- Permits in 5+ unit buildingsIn the report
- IRS income moving in (net AGI)In the report
- Neighbouring-county comparison tableIn the report
What's inside: 5 pages
- 1 Summary, headline numbers and ranks (free preview)
- 2 Ranks and the neighbouring-county table
- 3 Migration, with IRS mover and income flows
- 4 Rent, vacant homes, permits and employers
- 5 Every source and the methods
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
−39
2025
−4.5 per 1,000 residents
−88 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
2.7%
2025
+0.3 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
0
2025
0.0 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$71,334
2020–24
+38.0% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
2,404
2023
−5.0% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration was negative in 2025: 39 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in.
Private employers had 2,404 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.0% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 2.7% in 2025, 0.3 points higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic).
Builders were authorized to start 0 new homes in 2025, or 0.0 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $71,334 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +38.0% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 2,601st.
Get Dawson County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Dawson County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Dawson County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8,692 | −47 |
| 2024 | 8,739 | −86 |
| 2023 | 8,825 | +29 |
| 2022 | 8,796 | −59 |
| 2021 | 8,855 | −66 |
| 2020 | 8,921 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Dawson County
Dawson County lost 229 people since 2020; the biggest drag was natural change (−149).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | −8 | −149 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | −1 | +6 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | −39 | −88 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +1 | +2 | |
| Total change | −47 | −229 |
Census Bureau population estimates, components of change, each year July 1 to June 30. The components add up to the change in the estimate; the Census adjustment is the small balancing figure the Bureau publishes.
How it ranks
| Measure | In Montana | Among U.S. counties |
|---|---|---|
| Population growth | 50th of 52 | 2,601st of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 44th of 52 | 2,508th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 43rd of 52 | 2,471st of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 15th of 52 | 1,087th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 11th of 52 | 201st of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 41st of 44 | 2,868th of 3,005 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment). Counties are ranked only against others with a figure for the same period.
Get the county report — $99
The County Growth and Demographics Report for Dawson County, MT as a PDF, from federal data: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
Add 2 neighbouring counties for $50: the Richland County and McCone County reports too, $149 for all 3.
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Neighbouring counties
Dawson County lost population faster than all 3 of its neighbouring counties with a comparable figure (−2.6%, 2020–25).
Only Richland County had a higher median household income (2020–24) among its 4 neighbouring counties; Dawson County's was $71,334.
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawson County, MT This county | 8,692 | −2.6% | −4.5 | 0.0 | $71,334 |
| Richland County, MT | 11,377 | −1.3% | 22.8 | 0.1 | $73,084 |
| Prairie County, MT | 1,112 | +1.6% | 9.0 | – | $51,250 |
| Wibaux County, MT | 885 | – | – | – | $67,462 |
| McCone County, MT | 1,720 | −0.6% | −1.7 | 0.6 | $69,375 |
Census Bureau population estimates and building permits, American Community Survey 5-year income. Rates per 1,000 residents. – means no figure, or a base too small for a change or rate (it would swing on a few people). A figure from another period shows its year and is left out of the comparison.
Questions
Is Dawson County growing?
No. Its population fell 2.6% between 2020 and 2025, about 229 fewer people (Census Bureau population estimates). Montana as a whole changed +5.3% over the same years. That ranks 50th of 52 counties in Montana for population growth.
How many people moved to Dawson County?
On net, none in 2025: about 39 more people moved out to other U.S. counties than moved in (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Dawson County?
It averaged 2.7% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Dawson County?
About 8,692 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Dawson County?
Private employers there had 2,404 paid employees in mid-March 2023, −5.0% since 2018 (Census Bureau County Business Patterns; government jobs and the self-employed are not counted).
What Beacon CRE covers in Montana
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now. This page and the other Montana county pages carry the public federal growth figures.
Dawson County data alerts
Email me when Dawson County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.