St. Ignatius: Economy & Jobs

St. Ignatius's typical household earns $50,000 (1.3× below Lake County median $63,360; 1.5× below Montana median $72,866), with homes at a median value of $250,000. The surrounding county supports 9,768 jobs (avg $50,280).

Income & Affordability

Median household income $50,000 — below the Montana median ($72,866). Poverty rate 21.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 25% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).

Affordability · Home Price To Income5.0×
Affordability · Home Affordabilitymoderate
Affordability · Rent Pct Income19.0%
Affordability · Rent Affordabilityaffordable
Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened25.3%
Affordability · Poverty Rate21.8%
Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income3.5%
Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed$14,420
Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands)$1,031,483
Irs Income · Average AGI per return$71,531
Irs Income · Year2022
Income Estimate$57,865
Median Household Income$50,000 (vs Montana $72,866)
Poverty Rate21.8%

Sources: IRS SOI 2022 · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Economic Character

Qualitative classification derived from Census occupation, industry, and income data — workforce composition (white-collar/blue-collar), top employing sector, and income tier.

Economic Character · Workforcemixed
Economic Character · Top IndustryEducation Healthcare
Economic Character · Income Levelworking-class
Economic Character · Median Income$50,000

Employment & Workforce

Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 4.9% — above the U.S. average of ~4%. 11% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).

Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct10.8%
Commuter Profile · Primary Modedrove alone
Employment · Avg annual employment (county)9,768
Employment · Total annual wages (county)$491,154,146
Employment · Average annual pay$50,280
Employment · Year2024
State Occupation Wages · Year2023
State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code00-0000
State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · TitleAll Occupations
State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment501,730
Unemployment Rate4.9% (vs Montana 4.0%)

Sources: BLS QCEW 2023 · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Industry Sectors

Major industries by establishment count from Census County Business Patterns (2022). Sectors are NAICS-coded; counts are county-wide employer establishments.

Agriculture · Total Farms11
Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres24,938
Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres2,267.10
Agriculture · Top CommoditiesCrop Totals, Animal Totals, Cattle, Field Crops, Other, Vegetable Totals
Agriculture · Year2022
Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count)971
Business Patterns · Total Employees7,727
Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands347,155
Business Patterns · Year2022

Sources: USDA NASS Census 2022 — county FIPS matched · Census CBP API — county FIPS match

Local Business Mix

Retail and service businesses by category (Census CBP NAICS-coded). Counts cover the surrounding county, not just the town. Reflects the everyday commercial mix residents can access.

Local Businesses · Grocery Stores9
Local Businesses · Gas Stations11
Local Businesses · New Car Dealers4
Local Businesses · Beauty Salons4
Local Businesses · Pet Grooming3
Local Businesses · Auto Repair10
Local Businesses · Real Estate Offices15
Local Businesses · Commercial Banks8

Sources: Census CBP — NAICS detail codes

Dining Scene

Eating + drinking establishments by NAICS category (Census CBP 2022) — full-service restaurants, fast-food, bars, coffee shops. County-level counts.

Dining Scene · Full Service Restaurants29
Dining Scene · Fast Food19
Dining Scene · Bars12
Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks9

Sources: Census CBP NAICS 722

Banking

FDIC-insured bank branches with addresses. Branch density correlates with population — fewer branches per resident in lower-density areas.

Branches (5)

Valley Bank of Ronan
LAKE COUNTY BANK BRANCH · 102 Crystal Street · 59865
First Interstate Bank
POLSON BRANCH · 49573 Us Highway 93 · 59860
Unity Bank
POLSON BRANCH · 104 Ridgewater Dr · 59860
Glacier Bank
POLSON BRANCH · 50510 Us Highway 93 · 59860
Eagle Bank
Eagle Bank · 80 Heritage Ln · 59860

SNAP & Food Access

USDA-authorized SNAP retailers — supermarkets, super stores, convenience stores, and other locations where SNAP benefits can be redeemed. Per-1K density tracks food access.

Sample (1)

Mountain View Cenex
Convenience Store · 240 Mountain View Dr
Nearest Snap · NameMountain View Cenex
Nearest Snap · Total In Area1

Sources: USDA SNAP API — state+city name match

Chamber of Commerce

IRS-registered chamber of commerce organizations matched to this town. Reflects the IRS Exempt Organizations BMF; some chambers operate informally and may not appear here.

Chamber Of Commerce · NameLAKESIDE SOMERS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INC

Sources: IRS EO BMF  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12

Spending & Tax

Federal spending flowing to the surrounding county — direct payments, grants, contracts, loans (USAspending.gov).

Federal Spending · Federal Spending Fy2024$366,297,274
Federal Spending · Per Capita11,765.19
Federal Spending · Population31,134 people

Sources: USAspending API

Other

Pct Drove Alone65.2%
Pct Public Transit5.9%
Pct Walked10.8%
Retirement Score · Median age31.0 years (vs Montana 40.8y)
Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct41.3%
Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby2
Retirement Score · Va AccessYes
Retirement Score · Factorsstrong SS base, hospital access, VA nearby
Retirement Score · Ratinggood

Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023  ·  Refreshed 2026-04-12