Population
172,692
2025
+4.5% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Yellowstone County, MT: population growth, jobs and income
Yellowstone County gained 1,144 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.7%).
Yellowstone County had an estimated 172,692 residents in 2025, up 4.5% (7,484 more people) since 2020. That is slower than Montana as a whole (+5.3%), and the 22nd fastest growth of 52 counties in Montana.
Data as of 2025 · updated
14-day full refund · Stripe, Apple Pay or Google Pay · Instant PDF + CSV · Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
How we compute every number · Refund terms
In the Yellowstone County report
One-time $99 PDF: everything on this page for Yellowstone County, ranked against Montana and the U.S., plus these figures that are not on the free page:
- Median gross rent$1,131/mo2020–24
- Vacant homes, incl. seasonal and second homes5.8%2020–24
- New homes permitted, last 12 months8452025-10/2026-09
- 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
+868
2025
5.0 per 1,000 residents
+6,685 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
3.2%
2025
+0.0 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
997
2025
+8.7% since 2021
5.8 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
$76,570
2020–24
+22.3% 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
75,637
2023
+7.8% 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 added 868 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 75,637 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.8% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.2% in 2025.
Builders were authorized to start 997 new homes in 2025, or 5.8 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $76,570 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +22.3% since 2016–20.
Across the 3,107 U.S. counties with a comparable estimate, its population growth ranks 690th.
Part of the Billings, MT metro area.
Get Yellowstone County’s next numbers by email
Email me when Yellowstone County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Yellowstone County population by year
| Year | Population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 172,692 | +1,144 |
| 2024 | 171,548 | +980 |
| 2023 | 170,568 | +825 |
| 2022 | 169,743 | +2,299 |
| 2021 | 167,444 | +2,236 |
| 2020 | 165,208 | – |
Census Bureau population estimates, July 1 of each year.
What drove the change in Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County grew by 7,484 people since 2020; the largest part came from domestic migration (+6,685).
| Component | 2025 | 2020–25 | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural changebirths minus deaths | +115 | +46 | |
| International migrationfrom and to other countries | +151 | +705 | |
| Domestic migrationfrom and to other U.S. counties | +868 | +6,685 | |
| Census adjustmentbalancing residual | +10 | +48 | |
| Total change | +1,144 | +7,484 |
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 | 22nd of 52 | 690th of 3,107 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 22nd of 52 | 1,066th of 3,108 |
| Private-sector job growth | 20th of 52 | 895th of 3,092 |
| Median household income | 7th of 52 | 740th of 3,107 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 28th of 52 | 597th of 3,108 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 5th of 44 | 495th 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 Yellowstone 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 Big Horn County and Carbon County reports too, $149 for all 3.
Preview page 1 of the Yellowstone County report (free, PDF) · See a full 5-page sample (PDF) · Other counties and options
Every purchase also includes a CSV of every table in the report, ready for a spreadsheet.
- Not useful? Email us within 14 days for a full refund
- Sold by Simply Stats LLC (NC)
- Secure Stripe checkout (Apple Pay/Google Pay)
- Instant PDF download
- PDF + CSV of every table
Refund terms: Terms. · How we compute every number
Neighbouring counties
Over 2020–25, Yellowstone County's population change (+4.5%) was ahead of 2 of its 5 neighbouring counties with a comparable figure and behind 3.
2 of its 7 neighbouring counties had a higher median household income than Yellowstone County's $76,570 (2020–24).
| County | Population2025 | Population change2020–25 | Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents2025 | Homes permitted per 1,000 residents2025 | Median household income2020–24 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowstone County, MT This county | 172,692 | +4.5% | 5.0 | 5.8 | $76,570 |
| Musselshell County, MT | 5,582 | +17.6% | 25.8 | 1.3 | $58,920 |
| Golden Valley County, MT | 844 | – | – | – | $58,333 |
| Stillwater County, MT | 9,445 | +5.0% | 2.3 | 0.0 | $84,732 |
| Carbon County, MT | 11,466 | +9.1% | −4.1 | 2.8 | $80,261 |
| Big Horn County, MT | 12,752 | −2.5% | −11.5 | 0.0 | $58,750 |
| Treasure County, MT | 728 | – | – | – | $67,917 |
| Rosebud County, MT | 8,253 | −0.7% | −4.8 | 0.2 | $49,914 |
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 Yellowstone County growing?
Yes. Its population grew 4.5% between 2020 and 2025, about 7,484 more people (Census Bureau population estimates). Montana as a whole changed +5.3% over the same years. That ranks 22nd of 52 counties in Montana for population growth.
How many people moved to Yellowstone County?
On net, about 868 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in Yellowstone County?
It averaged 3.2% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of Yellowstone County?
About 172,692 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
How many jobs are in Yellowstone County?
Private employers there had 75,637 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +7.8% 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.
Yellowstone County data alerts
Email me when Yellowstone 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.