Browning, Montana is widely recognized as the poorest town in Montana, with the highest poverty rate in the state at 46.35% and a median household income of just $34,250 as of 2026. This poverty rate is vastly higher than the state average and makes Browning stand out as the most economically disadvantaged community in Montana.
Alternative Rankings Show Different Poorest Towns
Different studies and criteria yield different results for “poorest town,” depending on whether they measure poverty rate, median household income, or other economic factors:
Browning’s Economic Challenges
Browning is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in northern Montana and faces significant economic hardship, including high unemployment and limited job opportunities. The town’s median household income of $34,250 is substantially lower than Montana’s state median of approximately $55,980.
Plains Has the Lowest Median Income
Despite Browning’s higher poverty rate, Plains, Montana has the lowest median household income in the state at $25,491, with a 31.23% poverty rate. Plains is a small town in western Montana with just over 1,200 residents.
Why Different Rankings Exist
Different studies use different criteria:
- Poverty rate (percentage of population below poverty line): Browning ranks #1
- Median household income (lowest income): Plains ranks #1
- Cities with population ≥10,000: Bozeman ranked highest in poverty among larger cities
Key Takeaway
If you’re asking about the poorest by poverty rate, the answer is Browning. If you’re asking about the poorest by median income, the answer is Plains. Most recent 2026 sources cite Browning as the poorest town in Montana overall due to its extreme 46.35% poverty rate.
SOURCES :
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/montana/browning
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/montana/plains
