City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Butte-Silver Bow (balance) - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

34,929
Residents
$57,633
Median income
$225,100
Median home
$1,414
Median rent (state)

Butte-Silver Bow (balance) - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Butte-Silver Bow (balance) places in the 32nd percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

32nd
percentile, household income
50th
percentile, home value
56th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT

Butte-Silver Bow (balance) is a small city in Montana, home to 34,929 residents per U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Butte-Silver Bow (balance) households earn a median of $57,633 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 9.0%. Typical homes in Butte-Silver Bow (balance) are valued around $225,100, and the median resident age is 40.2 years. About 27.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 55.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 109 residential building permits were authorized in Butte-Silver Bow (balance) (Building Boom), up 68% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data.

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,414 per month statewide. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 15.0 minutes, with 77.2% driving alone and 7.2% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 38.0 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

Population

34,929 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$57,633 /yr

Poverty 9.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Butte-Silver Bow (balance) compare to other US cities?

Butte-Silver Bow (balance) measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 32% higher than other cities
Home value 50% pricier than other cities
Median rent 56% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Butte-Silver Bow (balance)'s value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Montana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

32ndIncome percentile

32nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Butte-Silver Bow (balance)'s home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$225,100 Among the most affordable more affordable than 50% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). This entry sits in this band. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Butte-Silver Bow (balance) $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

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

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT median $57,633/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 27.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 9.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 55.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
34,929
Median Income
$57,633
Median Home Value
$225,100
Median Age
40.2
Poverty Rate
9.0%
Labor force participation
55.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
27.7%

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
34,000 residents34,500 residents35,000 residents35,500 residents36,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 34,574 residents 35,469 residents ▲ +2.6%
Butte-Silver Bow (balance)'s Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
109
housing units authorized
Single-Family
65
detached homes
Multifamily
44
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
3.1
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 65
2020 141
2021 72
2022 147
2023 100
2024 109

Permit volume increased 68% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.0 minutes
Drive Alone
77.2%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
0.9%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
7.2%
Other
1.4%

Based on 15,584 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Montana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$175
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Montana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Montana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Butte-Silver Bow (balance) sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,414/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
38.0 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Helena
33,126 people
Kalispell
26,830 people
Bozeman
55,042 people
Belgrade
11,425 people
Helena Valley Southeast
9,533 people
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
9,512 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Butte-Silver Bow (balance)'s 34,929 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Oildale, CA
34,971 people
Timberwood Park, TX
34,980 people
Pueblo West, CO
34,992 people
San Juan Capistrano, CA
34,998 people
University Place, WA
34,850 people
Prairieville, LA
35,010 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Butte-Silver Bow (balance)'s $57,633 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

North Miami Beach, FL
$57,633 median income
Horse Pasture, VA
$57,637 median income
Delcambre, LA
$57,639 median income
Hines, OR
$57,639 median income
Stratford, TX
$57,639 median income
Rutledge, AL
$57,625 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.8% 6.2% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.7% White 90.8% Black or African American 0.1% Asian 0.3% American Indian 2.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.5% Two or more races 6.2% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Butte-Silver Bow (balance) compares to nearby Montana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Butte-Silver Bow (balance) (this city) 34,929 $57,633
Helena 33,126 $69,341
Kalispell 26,830 $61,590
Bozeman 55,042 $79,903
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT?

What is the population of Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT? +

Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT counts 34,929 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT? +

The median household income in Butte-Silver Bow (balance) is $57,633 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Butte-Silver Bow (balance)? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Butte-Silver Bow (balance); the closest available measure is the Montana state average, a cost of living index of 94.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Montana vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Butte-Silver Bow (balance), MT? +

Butte-Silver Bow (balance)'s median home value sits at $225,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities Editorial

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.