County profile · Montana
Sanders County, MT market data
How Sanders County compares with other counties for 56 business types: competitors, household spending, official counts and growth.
- Population, 2025
- 14,062
- +12.9% since 2020
- Households
- 5,451
- Median household income
- $57,476
- +40.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Median home value
- $359,000
- Jobs located here
- 3,261
- Highest market score
- 85
- Auto repair and car care, #55 of 2,401 scored counties
A site report maps the competitors on map listings around any address in Sanders County by name and distance, and the households and spending within reach. Or open the report at the center of Sanders County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardSurvey estimates 2020–2024 · population estimates 2025 · official business counts 2023 · map listings September 2026 · Data credits · How we measure
What this means
Sanders County has an estimated 14,062 people and 5,451 households. Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Sanders County grew 12.9%, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). Median household income in Sanders County is $57,476, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. Against the 2015–2019 survey, the median rose 40.8%, before inflation.
Relative to the U.S., household spending in Sanders County runs highest on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and lowest on clothing, shoes and related services (73).
Of the business types scored in Sanders County, auto repair and car care businesses (85), auto repair shops (84) and hair salons (78) have the highest Groundwork market scores. For auto repair and car care businesses, that ranks #55 of 2,401 scored counties.
Against the U.S., map listings per household run highest for gas stations (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and lowest for medical and dental practices (63% below the U.S. rate).
All 56 business types in Sanders County
Highest Groundwork market score first. Each score compares Sanders County with other counties for that business type, from 0 to 100. Spending per listing divides a whole spending line (all vehicle repairs, all eating out) by one type’s listings: the demand for each competitor, not a business’s revenue. Compare it across markets with its index, where 100 is the U.S. figure for the same type; the real estate types, whose line is all housing costs, show the index only. How the score works.
| Business type | Score | Rank among counties | Listings | Per 10k households | Spending per listing | Spending per listing vs. U.S. (100) | Official establishments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auto repair and car care | 85 | #55 of 2,401 | 17 | 31.2 | $382K | 142 | 7 |
| Auto repair shops | 84 | #62 of 2,378 | 10 | 18.3 | $650K | 146 | 5 |
| Hair salons | 78 | #98 of 2,339 | 6 | 11.0 | $763K | 177 | Under 3 |
| Salons, barbers and spas | 78 | #106 of 2,385 | 10 | 18.3 | $458K | 215 | Under 3 |
| Doctors, dentists and clinics | 77 | #151 of 2,394 | 17 | 31.2 | $347K | 228 | 6 |
| Insurance agencies | 67 | #573 of 2,272 | 8 | 14.7 | $1.5M | 122 | 4 |
| Real estate | 57 | #729 of 2,229 | 13 | 23.8 | Index only | 151 | 11 |
| Home repair trades | 50 | #1,012 of 2,057 | 5 | 9.2 | $2.6M | 106 | 12 |
| Real estate agents and brokers | 50 | #1,058 of 2,176 | 13 | 23.8 | Index only | 120 | 8 |
| Gas stations | 50 | #1,190 of 2,358 | 15 | 27.5 | $1.1M | 48 | 7 |
| Restaurants and cafes | 42 | #1,556 of 2,405 | 59 | 108.2 | $297K | 80 | 21 |
| Sit-down restaurants | 40 | #1,639 of 2,405 | 27 | 49.5 | $649K | 98 | 12 |
| Pet businesses | 39 | #1,585 of 2,200 | 13 | 23.8 | $330K | 38 | 3 |
| Grocery and convenience stores | 29 | #1,985 of 2,402 | 16 | 29.4 | $1.8M | 54 | 10 |
| Veterinarians | 28 | #1,262 of 1,485 | 7 | 12.8 | $612K | 22 | 3 |
| Bakeries and dessert shops | 28 | #1,681 of 1,889 | 6 | 11.0 | $2.9M | 70 | 6 |
| Grocery stores | 24 | #1,809 of 2,070 | 8 | 14.7 | $3.7M | 40 | 6 |
| Coffee shops and cafes | 24 | #1,918 of 2,063 | 14 | 25.7 | $1.3M | 34 | 6 |
| Convenience stores | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.3 | $7.4M | 94 | 4 |
| Pizza | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.3 | $4.4M | 86 | 3 |
| Roofing and gutters | Not scored | Not scored | 4 | 7.3 | $3.2M | 38 | Under 3 |
| Gyms, studios and classes | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $1.4M | 206 | Under 3 |
| Primary care and pediatrics | Not scored | Not scored | 3 | 5.5 | $2M | 110 | Under 3 |
| Clothing and shoe stores | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Clothing, shoes and laundry | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Dentists and orthodontists | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $3M | Too few | 3 |
| Fast food and sandwich shops | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $8.8M | Too few | 3 |
| Gyms | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Nail salons | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $2.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet grooming and boarding | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $2.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Physical therapy | Not scored | Not scored | 2 | 3.7 | $3M | Too few | 3 |
| Barbershops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Car washes and detailing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $6.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Collision repair and body shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $6.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Funeral homes | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $1.2M | Too few | Under 3 |
| HVAC and plumbing | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $12.9M | Too few | 8 |
| Landscaping and lawn care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $6M | Too few | 4 |
| Lawn, cleaning and pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $6M | Too few | 4 |
| Martial arts and dance studios | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $4.1M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Pet stores | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $4.3M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Spas and skin care | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $4.6M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Tire shops | Not scored | Not scored | 1 | 1.8 | $6.5M | Too few | Under 3 |
| Child care and preschools | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Chiropractors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Dry cleaners | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Electricians | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | 4 |
| Home inspectors | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| House cleaning | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Laundromats | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Mortgage brokers and lenders | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Oil change and quick lube | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Optometrists and eye care | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Pest control | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Property management | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Urgent care and walk-in clinics | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
| Yoga, Pilates and fitness studios | Not scored | Not scored | 0 | 0.0 | None listed | None listed | Under 3 |
Household spending in Sanders County
What households here spend in a year on each line, in total and per household, with the index against the U.S. average (100).
| Spending line | A year, all households | Per household | Index vs. U.S. (100) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle maintenance and repairs | $6.5M | $1,192 | 124 |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $17.2M | $3,157 | 122 |
| Food away from home | $17.5M | $3,215 | 79 |
| Groceries | $29.5M | $5,414 | 86 |
| Personal care products and services | $4.6M | $840 | 84 |
| Child care and other personal services | $2.5M | $456 | 79 |
| Memberships, classes and admissions | $4.1M | $749 | 76 |
| Medical and dental services | $5.9M | $1,083 | 84 |
| Pets | $4.3M | $786 | 86 |
| Clothing, shoes and related services | $8.2M | $1,500 | 73 |
| Vehicle insurance | $12.2M | $2,244 | 115 |
| Home repairs, maintenance and insurance | $12.9M | $2,371 | 79 |
| Lawn care, cleaning and other household services | $6M | $1,106 | 78 |
| Rent and homeowner costs | $84.9M | $15,582 | 94 |
Household spending is estimated from the incomes of the households in each neighborhood, using what households at each income spent nationally in 2024, adjusted for the region. It counts what residents spend, wherever they spend it.
Population and households in Sanders County
- Population, 2025 estimate
- 14,062+12.9% since 2020
- Households
- 5,451
- Median age
- 54.7
- Homes lived in by their owners
- 81%
- Vehicles per household
- 2.3
- Land area
- 2,760 sq. mi.
- People per square mile
- 5
- Median household income
- $57,476+40.8% vs. 2015–2019, before inflation
- Average household income
- $75,317
- Median home value
- $359,000
- Jobs located here
- 3,261
- Daytime population
- 12,845Residents who don’t work, plus everyone whose job is here
Looking at a specific site in Sanders County?
These figures cover the whole county. A site report draws rings around one address and counts what’s inside them: households, spending, jobs, and the competitors on map listings by name and distance, for any of the 56 business types.
Or open the report at the center of Sanders County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
Free10 actions over 3 days, no cardRelated markets
Nearest counties in Montana 8
- Mineral County, MT4,959 people
- Lake County, MT32,561 people
- Flathead County, MT110,695 people
- Lincoln County, MT21,175 people
- Missoula County, MT120,672 people
- Ravalli County, MT46,727 people
- Granite County, MT3,462 people
- Glacier County, MT13,637 people
Questions
How fast is Sanders County, MT growing?
Population estimates put Sanders County at 14,062 people in 2025, up 12.9% since 2020, faster than the U.S. (+3.1%). It has 5,451 households. Median household income rose 40.8% from the 2015–2019 survey, before inflation.
How much do households in Sanders County, MT spend?
Households in Sanders County spend about $84.9M a year on rent and homeowner costs, $29.5M on groceries and $17.5M on food away from home. Set against the U.S., households in Sanders County spend the most on vehicle maintenance and repairs (an index of 124, where 100 is the U.S. average) and the least on clothing, shoes and related services (73).
Which business types have the highest market scores in Sanders County, MT?
The highest Groundwork market scores in Sanders County are for auto repair and car care businesses (85), auto repair shops (84) and hair salons (78). Sanders County ranks #55 of 2,401 scored counties for auto repair and car care businesses.
How does Sanders County, MT compare with the U.S.?
The median household income in Sanders County is $57,476 a year, 29% below the U.S. median of $80,734. The population rose 12.9% from 2020 to 2025, against +3.1% for the U.S. The median home value is $359,000, against $332,700 for the U.S. For its number of households, Sanders County has the most map listings, relative to the U.S., for gas stations (2.5 times the U.S. rate) and the fewest for medical and dental practices (63% below the U.S. rate).
What is the Groundwork market score?
The Groundwork market score runs from 0 to 100 and compares a market with others of its kind for one business type: states with states, metro areas with metro areas, small-town markets and counties with their own. It weighs household spending per competitor (35%), households per business with payroll (25%), population growth (20%) and spending power (20%), each ranked against those peers. A higher score means that, taken together, the market has more household spending and more households for each business already there, faster population growth and more spending per household than similar markets. It describes a market, not any one site or deal. 18 of the 56 business types have a score in Sanders County, each ranked against other counties.
How can I see the market around a specific site?
Run a Groundwork site report on an address in Sanders County. It maps the competitors on map listings near the site and sizes the households and spending within the distance you choose. New accounts get 10 actions over 3 days, no card.
All markets in Montana · Every U.S. market · How we measure
Screening a site or an acquisition in Sanders County?
A site report maps the competitors on map listings near an address and sizes the households and spending around it.
The button opens the report at the center of Sanders County. Signed out, you see a blurred preview; on an account, each report is one action.
This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Figures are estimates for research only. Not investment or real estate advice.