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METRO AREA

Helena Metro

Helena, MT · 3 counties · 97,153 residents (2025 est.) · 6,307.737 sq mi
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Notable rankings
#38Lowest poverty rateof 9258.1%
The short version

Helena has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $79,942. Population has grown 34% since 2000. Median home value has more than tripled since 2000, reaching $403,467. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $82,259
Older
median age 42.9
US median: 38.9
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 106%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
93,906
+34%since 2000
from 70,150 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
15 / sq mi
+34%since 2000
from 11 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
42.9
+11%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.9

PEP 2025 EST:97,153 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
55K66K76K87K97K1990201020202024Helena
202494K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$79,942
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,662 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$44,973
+143%since 2000
from $18,532 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
52.2%
+23.6 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
8.1%
−2.5 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.431
+8%since 2010
from 0.397 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information9.7%
US avg: 10.8%
Wholesale trade9.2%
US avg: 6.9%
Other services6%
US avg: 6.7%
Public administration4.6%
US avg: 4.8%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing3.4%
US avg: 1.6%
Retail trade3.2%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance3%
US avg: 5.9%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 5.1%
Construction2.6%
US avg: 1.2%
Transportation & warehousing1.5%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.4%
US avg: 1.9%
Manufacturing0.9%
US avg: 0.4%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.9%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$403,467
+106%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $107,581 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,066
+30%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $449 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
73.5%
+0.9 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
26.5% rent
Vacancy rate
8.5%
−3.3 ptssince 2009
from 11.8% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Owner cost-burdened
22.6%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 23.2% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
37.1%
−1.4 ptssince 2009
from 38.5% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
5.0
+77%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
79
RELATED:See current rent listings in Helena on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(66,349)
Black0.2%(129)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(1,050)
Asian0.5%(329)
Other0%
Diversity Score5.5%(3,831)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic88.9%(83,490)
Black0.4%(406)
Hispanic / Latino3.8%(3,555)
Asian0.5%(424)
Other6.4%(6,031)
Diversity Score25.5%(23,939)
Segregation Score13.2%(12,395)
Diversity Score
25
+367%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
13
−25%since 2020
from 18 in 2020
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.3%
+10.3 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
94.5%
+3.7 ptssince 2000
from 90.8% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.6%
+3.9 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
20.0 min
+67%since 2000
from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
69.5%
−3.1 ptssince 2009
from 72.6% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
10.8%
−1.9 ptssince 2009
from 12.7% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
13.9%
+8.1 ptssince 2009
from 5.8% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.7%
−2.2 ptssince 2009
from 5.9% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.9%
−0.4 ptssince 2009
from 1.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
4.8%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
3.4%
−2.3 ptssince 2011
from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
63.4%
−4.2 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Self-employed
18.8%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 18.9% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
49.3%
−19.7 ptssince 2009
from 69.0% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.8%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.2%
−0.2 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.7%
−0.1 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
9.8%
−39.1 ptssince 2009
from 48.9% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
15.2%
+2.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.6% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
5.9%
−83.2 ptssince 2013
from 89.0% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.1%
+12.5 ptssince 2017
from 77.5% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
English only at home
97.4%
−0.1 ptssince 2016
from 97.5% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
1.0%
−0.3 ptssince 2016
from 1.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
In this metro

Principal cities

HelenaCENTRAL35,138
What's inside

3 component counties

Lewis and Clark CountyCENTRAL75,331Jefferson County13,329Broadwater County8,493
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Helena

Corvallis
Pop 97,728
Cheyenne
Pop 102,938
Dubuque
Pop 99,381
Columbus
Pop 85,729
Places similar to Helena
Head to head

Compare Helena side by side

HELENA VS
Corvallis
Income$77,702−3%
Home value$513,000+27%
Population97,728+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Cheyenne
Income$80,173same
Home value$348,700−14%
Population102,938+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Dubuque
Income$77,630−3%
Home value$237,300−41%
Population99,381+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Columbus
Income$79,901same
Home value$232,800−42%
Population85,729−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Helena, MT?

Helena, MT has about 93,906 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Helena, MT?

The typical household in Helena, MT earns about $79,942 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Helena, MT expensive?

In Helena, MT, the median home is worth about $403,467, and the typical rent is about $1,066 a month.

How educated are people in Helena, MT?

About 40.3% of adults age 25 and over in Helena, MT hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Helena, MT?

About 8.1% of people in Helena, MT live below the federal poverty line.

Has Helena, MT grown since 1990?

Yes, Helena, MT has grown since 1990. The population has added about 35,154 residents, a change of about 60 percent over that period.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →