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METRO AREA · 2020 ACS

Helena Metro

Helena, MT · 3 counties · 89,832 residents · 6,307.737 sq mi
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The short version

Helena has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $66,202. Population has grown 28% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $265,552.

At a glance
Average income
near the US median
US median: $66,278
Older
median age 42.7
US median: 38.8
More educated
40% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 33%
Less affordable
home values up 64%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $265,253
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
89,832
+28%since 2000
from 70,150 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Population density
14 / sq mi
+28%since 2000
from 11 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 280
Median age
42.7
+11%since 2000
from 38.5 in 2000
US average: 38.8
Population, 1990 – 2024
55K66K76K87K97K1990201020202024Helena
202494K
1990201020202024
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$66,202
+17%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $37,662 in 2000
US average: $66,278
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$35,742
+93%since 2000
from $18,532 in 2000
US average: $35,364
Households earning $100K+
43.3%
+14.7 ptssince 2009
from 28.6% in 2009
US average: 43.9%
Poverty rate
8.9%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 10.6% in 2000
US average: 12.8%
Workforce by industry, 2020
Information11%
US avg: 11.1%
Wholesale trade7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Other services7%
US avg: 6.6%
Public administration5.3%
US avg: 4.7%
Retail trade4.1%
US avg: 10%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing4.1%
US avg: 1.7%
Finance & insurance3.1%
US avg: 5.5%
Construction3%
US avg: 1.2%
Professional, scientific, technical2.6%
US avg: 4.7%
Arts, entertainment, food1.6%
US avg: 2%
Manufacturing1%
US avg: 0.5%
Transportation & warehousing0.9%
US avg: 2.5%
Education & health services0.4%
US avg: 0.8%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$265,552
+64%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $107,581 in 2000
US average: $265,253
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$847
+26%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $449 in 2000
US average: $1,124
Owner-occupied
71.5%
−1.0 ptssince 2000
from 72.5% in 2000
28.5% rent
Afford Score
4.0
+40%since 2000
from 2.9 in 2000
1990 – 2024
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%
2020
White, non-Hispanic88.1%(79,138)
Black0.3%(298)
Hispanic / Latino3.4%(3,090)
Asian0.7%(605)
Other4.7%(4,194)
Diversity Score21.9%(19,662)
Segregation Score17.5%(15,723)
Diversity Score
22
+301%since 2000
from 5 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
18
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
40.4%
+10.4 ptssince 2000
from 30.0% in 2000
US average: 32.9%
High school or higher
95.5%
+4.7 ptssince 2000
from 90.8% in 2000
US average: 88.5%
Graduate degree
14.6%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 9.7% in 2000
US average: 12.7%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
18.3 min
+53%since 2000
from 12.0 min in 2000
US average: 26.9
Drive alone to work
74.5%
+1.9 ptssince 2009
from 72.6% in 2009
US average: 75.1%
No vehicle available
4.4%
+0.2 ptssince 2009
from 4.2% in 2009
US average: 8.4%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−1.7 ptssince 2011
from 5.7% in 2011
US average: 5.4%
Labor force participation
64.9%
−2.6 ptssince 2011
from 67.6% in 2011
US average: 63.4%
Management & professional
46.6%
−22.5 ptssince 2009
from 69.0% in 2009
US average: 39.3%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.9%
+0.3 ptssince 2009
from 49.5% in 2009
Female
50.1%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 50.5% in 2009
Foreign born
1.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2009
from 1.8% in 2009
US average: 13.5%
Uninsured
5.7%
−83.4 ptssince 2013
from 89.0% in 2013
US average: 8.8%
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+17%
Home value$513,000+93%
Population97,728+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Cheyenne
Income$80,173+21%
Home value$348,700+31%
Population102,938+6%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Dubuque
Income$77,630+17%
Home value$237,300−11%
Population99,381+2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HELENA VS
Columbus
Income$79,901+21%
Home value$232,800−12%
Population85,729−12%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Helena, MT?

Helena, MT has about 89,832 residents according to the 2020 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Helena, MT?

The typical household in Helena, MT earns about $66,202 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 $265,552, and the typical rent is about $847 a month.

How educated are people in Helena, MT?

About 40.4% 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 8.9% 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 31,080 residents, a change of about 53 percent over that period.

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

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