City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Helena Valley Southeast, MT

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

9,533
Residents
$63,824
Median income
$308,000
Median home
$1,748
Median rent (state)

Helena Valley Southeast - the verdict

Nationally, Helena Valley Southeast sits in the 41st percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

41st
percentile, household income
66th
percentile, home value
71st
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: Helena Valley Southeast, MT

Montana's Helena Valley Southeast is a small town, with 9,533 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. The typical household in Helena Valley Southeast brings in $63,824 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 7.0%. Helena Valley Southeast's housing stock carries a median value of $308,000, and the median resident age is 38.2 years. About 21.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 62.4% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

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). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,748 per month. Monthly utility costs average around $175 across Montana, per EIA 2023 residential energy estimates. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 17.7 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

9,533 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$63,824 /yr

Poverty 7.0%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Helena Valley Southeast compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 41% higher than other cities
Home value 66% pricier than other cities
Median rent 71% 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 Helena Valley Southeast'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.

41stIncome percentile

41st percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Helena Valley Southeast's home value compares nationally

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

$308,000 34th percentile more affordable than 34% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Helena Valley Southeast $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 Valley Southeast, MT Helena Valley Southeast, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Helena Valley Southeast, 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 Valley Southeast, MT median $63,824/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 Valley Southeast, 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 Valley Southeast, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 21.7%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 7.0%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.4%

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

Population
9,533
Median Income
$63,824
Median Home Value
$308,000
Median Age
38.2
Poverty Rate
7.0%
Labor force participation
62.4%
Bachelor's Degree+
21.7%

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
75.3%
Carpool
14.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.4%
Work from Home
8.9%
Other
0.8%

Based on 4,433 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 Valley Southeast sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,748/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
17.7 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
9,512 people
Havre
9,333 people
Evergreen
8,908 people
Livingston
8,635 people
Whitefish
8,422 people
Miles City
8,412 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena Valley Southeast's 9,533 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Mechanicsburg, PA
9,535 people
Grinnell, IA
9,527 people
Itasca, IL
9,525 people
Belmont, VA
9,525 people
Ivins, UT
9,524 people
Claymont, DE
9,543 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Helena Valley Southeast's $63,824 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Cashmere, WA
$63,825 median income
Carleton, MI
$63,826 median income
St. Benedict, PA
$63,828 median income
Pompano Beach, FL
$63,832 median income
Paw Paw, IL
$63,833 median income
Green Forest, AR
$63,813 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Helena Valley Southeast, 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 Valley Southeast, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.8% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2.0% White 93.8% Black or African American 0.8% Asian 0.6% American Indian 0.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.6% Two or more races 4.1% 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 Valley Southeast 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 Valley Southeast (this city) 9,533 $63,824
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County 9,512 $49,533
Havre 9,333 $58,000
Evergreen 8,908 $73,015
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Helena Valley Southeast, MT?

What is the population of Helena Valley Southeast, MT? +

Helena Valley Southeast, MT counts 9,533 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

In Helena Valley Southeast, the typical household earns $63,824 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Helena Valley Southeast? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Helena Valley Southeast; 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 Helena Valley Southeast, MT? +

Helena Valley Southeast's median home value sits at $308,000, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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