Helena, MT Metro Area

Metro Area

Population: 92,391 (2023 estimate)

Core-Based Statistical Area (CBSA)

Metro area data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Core-Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs) are defined by the Office of Management and Budget and group counties with a central urban core plus surrounding communities that are economically tied to it. Metro areas often cross county and state lines, making them the best unit for understanding regional labor markets, housing costs, and commute patterns.

Metro income rankings Compare to another metro

Trends 2017–2023

Income Poverty Home Values Rent Homeownership Education Unemployment Commute Time Work From Home Foreign-Born Uninsured

Data: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023 (released December 2024).

Quick Facts — Helena, MT Metro Area

What is the median household income in Helena, MT Metro Area?: The median household income in Helena, MT Metro Area is $74,040 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023).
What is the poverty rate in Helena, MT Metro Area?: The poverty rate in Helena, MT Metro Area is 4.4% (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the median home value in Helena, MT Metro Area?: $363,400 (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What is the average rent in Helena, MT Metro Area?: The median gross rent in Helena, MT Metro Area is $1,049 per month (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).
What percentage of Helena, MT Metro Area residents have a college degree?: 40.0% of adults in Helena, MT Metro Area hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023).

Population

92,391

Median Income

$74,040

Median Home Value

$363,400

Poverty Rate

4.4%

Unemployment (ACS 2023)

3.5%

Median Age

42.0 yrs

Since 2019 Median Income: +$7,621 (+11.5%) Home Value: +$115,000 (+46.3%) Poverty Rate: -2.4 pp (-35.3%) Bachelor's+: +0.7 pp (+1.8%) Unemployment: +0.3 pp (+9.4%)

Demographics

Total Population 92,391

Median Age 42.0

Female 50.0%

Race & Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino 3.6% White (non-Hisp.) 89.5% Black 0.5% Asian 0.6% Two or More 5.7% Other 0.7%

Asian Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Korean

0.2%

Indian

0.1%

Chinese

0.1%

Filipino

0.1%

Hispanic Subgroups (% of total pop.)

Mexican

2.2%

Puerto Rican

0.3%

Cuban

0.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Income & Poverty

Median Household Income $74,040 ±$2,777

Per Capita Income $97,787

Median Family Income $97,299

Poverty Rate 4.4%

Child Poverty Rate 7.0%

Working-Age Poverty Rate —

SNAP Recipients 7.5%

Social Security Income —

Retirement Income 30.9%

Household Income Distribution

< $10k

3.0%

$10–15k

2.5%

$15–25k

6.8%

$25–35k

8.3%

$35–50k

10.9%

$50–75k

19.2%

$75–100k

12.7%

$100–150k

17.7%

$150–200k

10.0%

$200k+

8.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Housing

Total Housing Units 42,389

Owner-Occupied 72.3%

Renter-Occupied 27.7%

Vacancy Rate 9.3%

Median Home Value $363,400

Median Gross Rent $1,049

Owner Cost Burden (30%+) 22.0%

Renter Cost Burden (30%+) 32.4%

Home Value Distribution

< $50k

4.5%

$50–100k

2.7%

$100–200k

2.3%

$200–300k

19.0%

$300–500k

41.5%

$500k–$1M

20.8%

$1M+

3.0%

Gross Rent Distribution

< $500

8.1%

$500–1k

37.3%

$1–1.5k

36.0%

$1.5–2k

13.6%

$2–2.5k

4.3%

$2.5–3.5k

0.2%

$3.5k+

0.5%

Vehicle Availability

No vehicle

5.0%

1 vehicle

25.7%

2 vehicles

36.9%

32.4%

Housing Type

Single-fam. det.

69.8%

Single-fam. att.

3.4%

2–4 units

2.8%

5–19 units

2.3%

20+ units

3.4%

Mobile home

9.9%

Housing Age

Pre-1940

12.2%

1940–1969

3.3%

1970–1999

18.4%

2000–2009

14.9%

2010+

12.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Education

High School or Higher 94.4%

Bachelor's or Higher 40.0%

Graduate Degree 13.6%

Some College / Associate 19.5%

Less Than High School 1.4%

Enrolled in School —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Employment

Labor Force Participation 62.8%

Unemployment Rate 3.5%

Work from Home 12.6%

Self-Employed 6.8%

Government Workers 26.2%

Private For-Profit 66.8%

Industry

Edu/Health

24.2%

Public Admin

14.9%

Retail

10.7%

Construction

9.2%

Prof. Services

9.1%

Arts/Entmt.

8.3%

Finance

6.3%

Agriculture

3.6%

Transportation

3.0%

Manufacturing

2.9%

Information

1.7%

Wholesale

1.4%

Occupation

Management

49.1%

Sales

17.1%

Food Prep

15.2%

Construction

9.9%

Production

8.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Commute

Median Travel Time 19.0 min

Drove Alone 70.3%

Carpool 10.7%

Public Transit 0.2%

Work from Home 12.6%

Walked 4.2%

Bicycle —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Households & Families

Total Households 38,433

Avg. Household Size 2.00

Avg. Family Size —

Married-Couple Households 50.7%

Single-Mother Households —

Single-Father Households —

Living Alone —

Households with Children 17.6%

Multigenerational —

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Age Distribution

Under 5

5.3%

5–9

5.9%

10–14

6.2%

15–19

5.9%

20–24

5.1%

25–34

11.7%

35–44

12.9%

45–54

11.8%

55–64

7.3%

65–74

7.4%

75–84

13.2%

85+

6.1%

Under 18: 21.1% Working age (18–64): 78.9% 65 and over: 20.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023

Social Characteristics

Immigration

Foreign Born 1.9%

Naturalized Citizen 59.6%

Speaks English Less Than Very Well 0.6%

Foreign-Born Origin

Europe

39.4%

Asia

24.7%

Latin America

21.5%

Africa

0.6%

Veterans & Disability

Veteran 10.5%

With a Disability 14.8%

Cognitive Difficulty —

Ambulatory Difficulty —

Health Insurance

Insured 93.9%

Uninsured 6.1%

Employer Insurance —

Medicaid —

Medicare —

Technology & Mobility

Broadband Internet 88.5%

Has a Computer 94.1%

Same House 1 Year Ago 86.1%

Moved from Abroad 0.2%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates, 2023