Butte-Silver Bow (balance): Economy & Jobs
Earnings in Butte-Silver Bow (balance) center on a median $61,857 (about the same as Silver Bow County median $61,754; 1.2× below Montana median $72,866), with homes at a median value of $257,800. The surrounding county supports 16,507 jobs (avg $55,167).
- $66,911 avg taxable income per return — similar than the median household income.
Income & Affordability
Median household income $61,857 — below the Montana median ($72,866). Poverty rate 14.8% (U.S. average ~12.5%). 43% of renters spend more than half their income on rent ("severely cost-burdened" by HUD definition; U.S. ~24%).
| Affordability · Home Price To Income | 4.2× |
|---|---|
| Affordability · Home Affordability | moderate |
| Affordability · Rent Pct Income | 15.7% |
| Affordability · Rent Affordability | affordable |
| Affordability · Pct Severely Rent Burdened | 43.3% |
| Affordability · Poverty Rate | 14.8% |
| Affordability · Property Tax Pct Income | 4.1% |
| Irs Income · IRS tax returns filed | $17,520 |
| Irs Income · Total Adjusted Gross Income (thousands) | $1,172,280 |
| Irs Income · Average AGI per return | $66,911 |
| Irs Income · Year | 2022 |
| Income Estimate | $65,673 |
| Median Household Income | $61,857 (vs Montana $72,866) |
| Poverty Rate | 14.8% |
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 · Workforce | mixed |
|---|---|
| Economic Character · Top Industry | Education Healthcare |
| Economic Character · Income Level | middle-class |
| Economic Character · Median Income | $61,857 |
Employment & Workforce
Employment + workforce stats. The county-level employment count covers all jobs within the county, not just town residents. Unemployment rate 2.4% — below the U.S. average of ~4%. 8% work from home (U.S. average ~15%).
| Commuter Profile · Mean Commute Min | 16.90 |
|---|---|
| Commuter Profile · Work From Home Pct | 7.6% |
| Commuter Profile · Profile | short commute |
| Employment · Avg annual employment (county) | 16,507 |
| Employment · Total annual wages (county) | $910,654,128 |
| Employment · Average annual pay | $55,167 |
| Employment · Year | 2024 |
| State Occupation Wages · Year | 2023 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Soc Code | 00-0000 |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Title | All Occupations |
| State Occupation Wages · All Occupations · Employment | 501,730 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2.4% (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 Farms | 6 |
|---|---|
| Agriculture · Land In Farms Acres | 17,974 |
| Agriculture · Avg Farm Size Acres | 2,995.70 |
| Agriculture · Top Commodities | Animal Totals, Cattle, Crop Totals, Field Crops, Other, Equine |
| Agriculture · Year | 2022 |
| Business Patterns · Establishments (employer count) | 1,201 |
| Business Patterns · Total Employees | 13,062 |
| Business Patterns · Annual Payroll Thousands | 612,201 |
| Business Patterns · Year | 2022 |
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 Stores | 7 |
|---|---|
| Local Businesses · Gas Stations | 16 |
| Local Businesses · General Merchandise | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Clothing Stores | 4 |
| Local Businesses · Electronics Stores | 3 |
| Local Businesses · New Car Dealers | 5 |
| Local Businesses · Florists | 3 |
| Local Businesses · Beauty Salons | 9 |
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 Restaurants | 27 |
|---|---|
| Dining Scene · Fast Food | 33 |
| Dining Scene · Bars | 33 |
| Dining Scene · Coffee Snacks | 9 |
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 (8)
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 · Name | EUREKA AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE |
|---|
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 | $256,318,685 |
|---|---|
| Federal Spending · Per Capita | 7,295.67 |
| Federal Spending · Population | 35,133 people |
Sources: USAspending API
Other
| Pct Drove Alone | 76.6% |
|---|---|
| Pct Public Transit | 2.6% |
| Pct Walked | 7.6% |
| Retirement Score · Median age | 40.6 years (at Montana median) |
| Retirement Score · Ss Household Pct | 37.0% |
| Retirement Score · Hospitals Nearby | 1 |
| Retirement Score · Factors | older population, strong SS base, hospital access |
| Retirement Score · Rating | good |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12