Census-designated place · Montana
Helena Valley West Central, Montana
Helena Valley West Central, census-designated place, in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Helena Valley West Central had 8,056 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±922). GEOID 3035637.
Residents, 2020-2024
8,056
±922 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 8,670
Median household income
$90,082
±$13,297 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$367,200
±$20,075 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$1,327
±$430 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
Where is Helena Valley West Central and what county is it in?
Helena Valley West Central is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. It covers 26.4 square miles of land, 329 residents per square mile in 2020.
Helena Valley West Central is in the Helena, MT metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Helena Valley West Central, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Helena Valley West Central's population at 8,056 (±922). The 2020 Census counted 8,670 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Helena Valley West Central is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Helena Valley West Central | Lewis and Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 8,056 ±922 | 73,464 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,957 ±257 | 31,215 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.72 ±0.22 | 2.30 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,020 ±259 | 34,082 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Helena Valley West Central?
The median resident of Helena Valley West Central is 39.3 years old; 25.0% are under 18 and 18.7% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 87.9%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 5.8%. 2.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Helena Valley West Central | Lewis and Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 ±3.6 | 41.8 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 25.0% ±4.2 pts | 21.2% | – |
| 65 years and over | 18.7% ±3.4 pts | 20.2% | – |
| Male | 53.7% ±3.2 pts | 49.6% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 5.1% ±2.1 pts | 4.0% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 87.9% ±3.4 pts | 88.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.5 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.4 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 5.8% ±2.5 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.3 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.2% ±1.2 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6% ±1.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 12.0% ±3.0 pts | 9.7% | – |
| With a disability | 11.7% ±3.2 pts | 14.8% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 6.4% ±2.8 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 96.4% ±1.8 pts | 94.8% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 41.1% ±4.4 pts | 43.0% | +7.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 14.1% ±3.2 pts | 14.6% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 92.3% ±2.8 pts | 87.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.2% ±1.9 pts | 3.9% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Helena Valley West Central earn?
Half of Helena Valley West Central's 2,957 households earn less than $90,082 a year (±$13,297), against $78,237 in Lewis and Clark County and $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $89,756 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 7.1% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Helena Valley West Central | Lewis and Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $90,082 ±$13,297 | $78,237 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $116,012 ±$13,245 | $104,055 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,857 ±$4,962 | $44,837 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 7.1% ±3.4 pts | 8.1% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.6% ±6.4 pts | 5.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.9% ±3.1 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 97.4% ±1.7 pts | 95.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 95.3% ±2.6 pts | 90.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Helena Valley West Central?
Owners occupy 85.2% of Helena Valley West Central's occupied homes and renters 14.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $367,200 by its owner (±$20,075). The median renter pays $1,327 a month including utilities.
| Measure | Helena Valley West Central | Lewis and Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $367,200 ±$20,075 | $393,500 | +$73,680 |
| Median gross rent | $1,327 ±$430 | $1,102 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 17.3% ±13.3 pts | 31.6% | – |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,857 ±$70 | $1,883 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 85.2% ±5.0 pts | 70.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 14.8% ±5.0 pts | 29.9% | – |
| Housing units | 3,020 ±259 | 34,082 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 0.0% ±6.6 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 79.5% ±4.8 pts | 66.0% | – |
| Mobile homes | 18.0% ±4.8 pts | 9.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.7% ±1.6 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 13.1% ±4.5 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 0.3% ±0.6 pts | 13.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 5.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Helena Valley West Central work and get to work?
76.3% of Helena Valley West Central's workers drive alone and 14.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.8%.
| Measure | Helena Valley West Central | Lewis and Clark County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 66.4% ±4.8 pts | 63.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% ±2.1 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 76.3% ±4.8 pts | 68.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.5% ±3.0 pts | 10.8% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 4.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 14.8% ±4.0 pts | 14.5% | +10.7 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.6 min ±2.2 | 18.3 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Helena Valley West Central?
1 census tract lies mostly in Helena Valley West Central, and 3 more reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 5.01Lewis and Clark County | 4,581 | $79,893 |
| Tract 5.03Lewis and Clark County | 4,802 | $73,029 |
| Tract 4Lewis and Clark County | 6,968 | $86,111 |
| Tract 6Lewis and Clark County | 2,622 | $93,105 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Helena Valley West Central) · Census block assignment files
How does Helena Valley West Central compare with other places in Montana?
Helena Valley West Central ranks 15th of 90 places in Montana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 16th | 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 71st | 93 |
| Median household income | 15th | 90 |
| Per capita income | 28th | 93 |
| Median home value | 32nd | 89 |
| Median gross rent | 13th | 82 |
| Poverty rate | 57th | 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 14th | 90 |
| Median age | 48th | 93 |
| Owner-occupied share | 11th | 92 |
| Work from home | 15th | 46 |
| Travel time to work | 36th | 93 |
Helena Valley West Central's figures with every place in Montana (CSV)
Every place in Montana, sortable · Compare Helena Valley West Central with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Helena Valley West Central?
15 of the 57 figures for Helena Valley West Central on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Helena Valley West Central are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.