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METRO AREA · 2000 CENSUS

Helena Metro

Helena, MT · 3 counties · 70,150 residents · 6,307.737 sq mi
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The short version

Helena has lower-than-average household income, with a median household income of $37,662. Population has grown 19% since 1990. Median home value has risen by half since 1990, reaching $107,581.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $42,589
Older
median age 38.5
US median: 35.2
More educated
30% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 24%
Less affordable
home values up 33%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $120,530
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
70,150
+19%since 1990
from 58,752 in 1990
1990 – 2025
Population density
11 / sq mi
+19%since 1990
from 9 / sq mi in 1990
Median age
38.5
+12%since 1990
from 34.3 in 1990
US average: 35.2
Population, 1990 – 2024
55K66K76K87K97K1990201020202024Helena
202494K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2000
Under 56%(4,193)
US avg: 6.8%
5 to 97%(4,918)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 147.9%(5,543)
US avg: 7.3%
15 to 197.7%(5,421)
US avg: 7.2%
20 to 245.1%(3,558)
US avg: 6.7%
25 to 3410.7%(7,515)
US avg: 14.2%
35 to 4416.9%(11,887)
US avg: 16%
45 to 5417%(11,937)
US avg: 13.4%
55 to 649.8%(6,891)
US avg: 8.6%
65 to 746.3%(4,442)
US avg: 6.5%
75 to 844.1%(2,871)
US avg: 4.4%
85 and over1.4%(974)
US avg: 1.5%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$37,662
+7%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $26,736 in 1990
US average: $42,589
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$18,532
+50%since 1990
from $12,337 in 1990
US average: $21,522
Poverty rate
10.6%
−0.8 ptssince 1990
from 11.5% in 1990
US average: 12.4%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$107,581
+33%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $61,303 in 1990
US average: $120,530
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$449
+6%inflation adjusted, since 1990
from $323 in 1990
US average: $602
Owner-occupied
72.5%
+2.0 ptssince 1990
from 70.5% in 1990
27.5% rent
RELATED:See current rent listings in Helena on RentDataNow
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

1990
White, non-Hispanic96.9%(56,927)
Black0.1%(51)
Hispanic / Latino1.1%(647)
Asian0.6%(355)
2000
White, non-Hispanic94.6%(66,349)
Black0.2%(129)
Hispanic / Latino1.5%(1,050)
Asian0.5%(329)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Mexican2.3%(2,190)
Puerto Rican0.3%(286)
Spaniard0.2%(152)
Cuban0.1%(117)
Colombian0.1%(69)
Peruvian0.1%(52)
Venezuelan0.4%(47)
Asian origin
Thai0.1%(108)
Filipino0.1%(83)
Korean0.1%(68)
Asian Indian0.1%(40)
Japanese0%(26)
Taiwanese0%(19)
Cambodian0%(18)
Chinese0%(17)
Pacific Islander origin
Ancestry
German24.2%(22,731)
Irish16.4%(15,366)
English16%(14,982)
Norwegian7%(6,610)
American5.2%(4,838)
Swedish3.7%(3,475)
Italian3.5%(3,257)
Scottish3.3%(3,092)
French3.1%(2,881)
Polish1.9%(1,740)
Scotch-Irish1.8%(1,681)
Dutch1.5%(1,429)
+ 35 more ancestry groups with data
Danish1%(981)
Welsh0.9%(892)
Finnish0.9%(869)
British0.7%(642)
Russian0.7%(617)
Swiss0.5%(479)
Czech0.5%(463)
Ukrainian0.5%(448)
Romanian0.5%(419)
Austrian0.4%(375)
Greek0.3%(316)
Hungarian0.3%(278)
Croatian0.3%(276)
Lithuanian0.2%(184)
Belgian0.2%(160)
Slovak0.2%(151)
West Indian0.1%(127)
Slovene0.1%(107)
Portuguese0.1%(95)
Canadian0.1%(93)
Armenian0.1%(64)
Bulgarian0.1%(55)
Serbian0.1%(49)
Arab0.1%(39)
Brazilian0%(16)
Jamaican0.1%(13)
Nigerian0%(12)
Ethiopian0%(10)
Latvian0%(9)
RANKED:Largest German population · Largest Irish population · Largest English population · Largest Norwegian population · Largest American population
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
30.0%
+3.9 ptssince 1990
from 26.1% in 1990
US average: 24.4%
High school or higher
90.8%
+5.0 ptssince 1990
from 85.8% in 1990
US average: 80.3%
Graduate degree
9.7%
+1.6 ptssince 1990
from 8.1% in 1990
US average: 8.8%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
12.0 min
−29%since 1990
from 16.9 min in 1990
US average: 17.6
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status
Men 15+
Never married23.9%(6,535)
Married62.2%(16,981)
Widowed2%(538)
Divorced11.9%(3,246)
Women 15+
Never married18.5%(5,220)
Married59.6%(16,851)
Widowed8.6%(2,425)
Divorced13.3%(3,760)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2000
In this metro

Largest cities

HelenaCENTRAL35,138Helena Valley Southeast9,108Helena Valley West Central8,056Helena Valley Northwest5,183Helena Valley Northeast4,659Montana City3,092East Helena2,325Townsend2,272Clancy1,874Wheatland1,661Helena West Side1,417Boulder1,305Whitehall1,131Lincoln908Spokane Creek740South Hills620The Silos579Jefferson City533Unionville412Toston368Basin352Rader Creek310York182Craig172Augusta165Marysville160Rimini118Winston81Milford Colony40Radersburg35

The 30 most populous of 35 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

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
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Head to head

Compare Helena side by side

HELENA VS
Corvallis
Income$77,702+106%
Home value$513,000+377%
Population97,728+1%
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HELENA VS
Cheyenne
Income$80,173+113%
Home value$348,700+224%
Population102,938+6%
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HELENA VS
Dubuque
Income$77,630+106%
Home value$237,300+121%
Population99,381+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Columbus
Income$79,901+112%
Home value$232,800+116%
Population85,729−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Helena, MT?

Helena, MT has about 70,150 residents according to the 2000 Census.

What is the median household income in Helena, MT?

The typical household in Helena, MT earns about $37,662 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 $107,581, and the typical rent is about $449 a month.

How educated are people in Helena, MT?

About 30.0% 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 10.6% 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 11,398 residents, a change of about 19 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 →