Teton County, Montana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 25.5 | 6,430 people · 51st most distressed in Montana
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Teton County, MT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 25.5 — 2948th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Montana, it ranks 51st of 56 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Teton County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 67.7 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 67.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 94
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Housing Cost Burden 35.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 37
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 14
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 47
Structural Poverty 35.0
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 17
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 23
Transfer Income Dependency 33
Legal Distress 24.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 24
Consumer Credit Distress 10.1
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 6
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 5

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Teton County
Teton County, MT 25.5 Healthy —
Cascade County, MT 44.7 Normal +19.2
Flathead County, MT 38.3 Normal +12.8
Lewis and Clark County, MT 34.4 Healthy +8.9
Chouteau County, MT 33.7 Healthy +8.2
Pondera County, MT 33.5 Healthy +8.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Teton County
Weston County, WY 25.5 Healthy -0.0
Chugach Census Area, AK 25.5 Healthy +0.0
Dunn County, ND 25.4 Healthy -0.0
Kearney County, NE 25.6 Healthy +0.1
Greeley County, KS 25.4 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Teton County as a CSV file.

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State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service 406-442-7660

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Legal aid organizations serving Teton County residents at no cost.

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) 1-800-666-6899

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Teton County, Montana?

    Teton County has a County Distress Index score of 25.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,948th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 51st in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Teton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Teton County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 67.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Teton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Teton County (25.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Cascade County, MT (44.7); Flathead County, MT (38.3); Lewis and Clark County, MT (34.4).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Healthy zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Teton County's score of 25.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Teton County's CDI score?

    Teton County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Teton County?

    Teton County, Montana has a population of approximately 6,430 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.