City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Helena, MT

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

33,126
Residents
$69,341
Median income
$355,100
Median home
$1,404
Median rent (state)

Helena - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Helena places in the 49th percentile for household income and the 15th percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

49th
percentile, household income
73rd
percentile, home value
54th
percentile, median rent
15th
percentile, safety
📝 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: Helena, MT

Montana's Helena is a small city, with 33,126 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Median household income here is $69,341 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 4.2%. Typical homes in Helena are valued around $355,100, and the median resident age is 40.4 years. About 50.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 59.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Housing supply pressure shows in Census Building Permit Survey data: 389 residential units were authorized in 2024 (Building Boom), up 91% from five years earlier. Helena's reported crime rate runs above the national norm: per-100,000 total crime stands at 3096.1 in FBI UCR data, above the national average (a voluntary reporting program, read this as reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Montana at 94.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Below Average). Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,404 monthly. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. Commute times here average 11.6 minutes, with 65.4% driving alone and 15.0% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 21.6 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

33,126 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$69,341 /yr

Poverty 4.2%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Helena compare to other US cities?

Helena measured against every US city with 1,000+ residents, computed live from the same Census and FBI data shown throughout this page.

Household income 49% higher than other cities
Home value 73% pricier than other cities
Median rent 54% pricier than other cities
Safety 15% safer than other cities

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

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Montana alone, Helena ranks #31 of 39 Montana cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Helena against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Bachelor's Degree or Higher is Helena's strongest outlier among Montana cities

Among the 317 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported bachelor's degree or higher data, Helena ranks #24 - the 92nd percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Helena only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#103 of 282
63rd percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#141 of 317
52nd percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#75 of 279
73rd percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#195 of 315
38th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#24 of 317
92nd percentile in Montana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Montana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

49thIncome percentile
15thSafety percentile

49th percentile nationally for median household income · 15th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Helena's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Helena's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 34 Avg. percentile National median
Helena's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Helena's home value compares nationally

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

$355,100 27th percentile more affordable than 27% 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%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Helena $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 - Helena, MT Helena, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Helena, 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 Helena, MT median $69,341/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%
Helena, 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 Helena, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 50.4%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 4.2%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 59.6%

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

Population
33,126
Median Income
$69,341
Median Home Value
$355,100
Median Age
40.4
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Labor force participation
59.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
50.4%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
3096.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
513.7
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2582.4
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
15
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
31,000 residents32,000 residents33,000 residents34,000 residents35,000 residents36,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 32,252 residents 35,138 residents ▲ +8.9%
Helena's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

📈 Building Boom
Total Permits (2024)
389
housing units authorized
Single-Family
44
detached homes
Multifamily
345
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
11.7
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 204
2020 249
2021 211
2022 91
2023 259
2024 389

Permit volume increased 91% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
11.6 minutes
Drive Alone
65.4%
Carpool
8.5%
Public Transit
0.3%
Walk
8.3%
Work from Home
15.0%
Other
2.5%

Based on 16,420 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 Helena sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,404/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
21.6 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Butte-Silver Bow (balance)
34,929 people
Kalispell
26,830 people
Belgrade
11,425 people
Bozeman
55,042 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 Helena's 33,126 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

West Little River, FL
33,147 people
Salisbury, MD
33,080 people
Dover, NH
33,070 people
Bethel Park, PA
33,070 people
Franklin, MA
33,067 people
Chester, PA
33,209 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena's $69,341 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Dames Quarter, MD
$69,342 median income
Glencoe, CA
$69,348 median income
Bowling Green, VA
$69,352 median income
Malden, IL
$69,327 median income
Larchwood, IA
$69,327 median income
Pecos, NM
$69,327 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Helena, 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 Helena, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 90.5% 6.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.8% White 90.5% Black or African American 0.9% Asian 0.9% American Indian 1.1% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 6.0% 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 Helena 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
Helena (this city) 33,126 $69,341
Butte-Silver Bow (balance) 34,929 $57,633
Kalispell 26,830 $61,590
Belgrade 11,425 $88,896
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Helena, MT?

What is the population of Helena, MT? +

Helena, MT has a population of 33,126 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Helena, MT? +

In Helena, the typical household earns $69,341 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Helena? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Helena; 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.

Is Helena, MT safe? +

Helena has a total crime rate of 3096.1 per 100,000 residents, which is above the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Helena, MT? +

A typical home in Helena is worth $355,100, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, 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

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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.