Checked
Carter County, MT
2 cities and towns and 5 ZIP codes in Carter County, Montana.
Population
1,308
Land area
3,340sq mi
People per sq mi
0
ZIP codes
5
Cities and towns in Carter County
Carter County at a glance
- Carter County is 95% less dense than Montana as a whole.
- Households here earn a median of $54,167 a year, 25% less than the Montana figure of $72,509.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $199,200 (47% below Montana) and median rent is $824 a month.
- The biggest population centers are Ekalaka (276) and Alzada (13).
Local data for Carter County, MT
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Carter County, MT, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$54,167
Poverty rate
15.4%
Median home value
$199,200
Median rent
$824/mo
Homeownership
62.2%
Bachelor's or higher
20.7%
Median age
56.9
Average commute
19.5 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (402), Irish Americans (166), Norwegian Americans (136).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, income, federal spending and pandemic loans
Unemployment rate
1.4%
Aug 2026, -0.2 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,065
326 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$53,344
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$25.5M
FY 2026, $18,023 per person
PPP loans
$4.46M
197 loans, 472 jobs reported
Campaign donations
$1,682
Itemized, 2026 cycle
How people get to work
Carter County, MT, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone46.8%
- Carpooled3.7%
- Public transit0.7%
- Walked5.2%
- Bicycle0.3%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other3.7%
- Worked from home39.5%
Average one-way commute: 19.5 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Carter County, MT, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Very Low
Top: wildfire
Storm events since 1996
595
Most often hail
July high / Jan low
85° / 7°F
15.7 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Carter County, MT, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.9%
U.S. 33.3% about the same
Diabetes
12.3%
U.S. 12.1% about the same
Smoking
15.0%
U.S. 12.8% +2.2 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
9.5%
U.S. 11.1% -1.6 pts
Cities, towns and ZIP codes in Carter County
Population shown
Frequently asked questions
- What is the largest city in Carter County, MT?
- Ekalaka is the largest city or town in Carter County, with about 276 residents.
- How many ZIP codes are in Carter County?
- Carter County includes 5 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, including 59311, 59316, 59319, 59324, 59332.
- What is the population of Carter County, MT?
- About 1,308 people live in Carter County, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What counties border Carter County?
- Carter County borders Custer County, Butte County, SD, Crook County, WY, Fallon County, Powder River County, Harding County, SD.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023