Treasure County, Montana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.9 | 772 people · 43rd most distressed in Montana
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Treasure County, MT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.9 — 2768th 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 43rd of 56 counties. It scores lower than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Treasure County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 93.0 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 93.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Structural Poverty 37.9
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Consumer Credit Distress 22.7
Debt in Collections 18
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 22
Legal Distress 21.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 21
Housing Cost Burden 16.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 81

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Treasure County
Treasure County, MT 29.9 Healthy —
Big Horn County, MT 60.3 Elevated +30.5
Rosebud County, MT 53.9 Elevated +24.1
Yellowstone County, MT 46.7 Normal +16.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Treasure County
Mercer County, ND 29.9 Healthy +0.0
Alger County, MI 29.9 Healthy +0.0
Pierce County, ND 29.8 Healthy -0.1
Cheyenne County, CO 29.9 Healthy +0.1
Wichita County, KS 29.8 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Treasure County

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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

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Treasure 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 Treasure County, Montana?

    Treasure County has a County Distress Index score of 29.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,768th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Treasure County?

    The primary driver of distress in Treasure County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 93.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Treasure County compare to neighboring counties?

    Treasure County (29.9) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Big Horn County, MT (60.3); Rosebud County, MT (53.9); Yellowstone County, MT (46.7).

  • 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). Treasure County's score of 29.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Treasure 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 Treasure County?

    Treasure County, Montana has a population of approximately 772 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.