City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Helena West Side, MT

Helena West Side's Census ACS profile: residents, income, housing, and the joined public-record layers available for this place.

1,584
Residents
$67,692
Median income
$411,800
Median home
$1,336
Median rent (state)
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Starting with Helena West Side, MT - add up to three more cities on the compare page.

See how it ranks

State rank, size-class rank, and four peer cities for Helena West Side.

Place dossier plate

Sheet MT-HELENA-WEST-SIDE-MT · Helena West Side, MT 1,584 pop · income 47th pct

POP-VILLAGE · INC-MID · COL-BELOW · SAFE-UNK · RANK-MID · PHOTO-FINISH · HOME-HIGH · BOOK-UNK

  • POP-VILLAGE 1,584
  • INC-MID $67,692
  • COL-BELOW 94.6
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-MID 47th
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Pleasantville
  • HOME-HIGH $411,800
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Pleasantville, IA (+ $0 income $)

Instrument codes from this place’s ACS population and household income, BEA state COL, FBI safety, national income percentile, photo-finish peer city, home-value band, and matched Census-tract book - not a moving recommendation.

Income neighbourhood around Helena West Side

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Helena West Side on median household income. Full ladder: /browse and /rankings.

median HH income

What this shows Neighbourhood peers only - not a full nationwide city board. Open a near peer when the gap is small; open the poles when the spread is wide.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2026-08-08

Compare beyond this state

Nationwide peers by population, income

Out-of-state nearest neighbors for Helena West Side on ACS population and median household income . Link sets are deduped so each column is a distinct comparison path, not a forecast that peers share a labor market or climate.

Similar population

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS population. This city: 1,584.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $67,692. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Helena West Side - the verdict

Nationally, Helena West Side sits in the 47th percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

47th
percentile, household income
78th
percentile, home value
61st
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 West Side, MT

1,584 people live in Helena West Side, Montana - a small town by U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. Households in Helena West Side report a median income of $67,692 per year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 1.9%. Helena West Side's housing stock carries a median value of $411,800, and the median resident age is 35.2 years. Educational attainment runs 48.3% of adults with a bachelor's degree or higher. Separately, 74.0% 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). A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,336 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Montana's average monthly utility costs around $175 (state average). Natural-hazard exposure scores 33.3 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Helena West Side's data

How this reading path is ordered

This is not a composite city score. It is a city-specific route through the available public records, ordered for this profile so the page starts with questions the joined data can actually answer. The route here runs from housing and income to comparison shortlist to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

For Helena West Side, city-specific coverage includes commute-mode shares. No matched row is reported here for annual population history, matched public-school count, within-city Census tract profiles, local building permits, FBI reported-crime rates; the page leaves those layers out instead of substituting a statewide or national value.

1. Housing and income

How far does income reach against housing in Helena West Side?

This is a citywide price-to-income reference, not a mortgage-affordability test; it does not include interest rates, taxes, insurance, household size, or an individual buyer's down payment. Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median. That flags a question for comparison, not a verdict: tenure, household composition, financing costs, and the age of the ACS estimate can all change what a resident actually pays.

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 6.1 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 1.9%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

Compare the housing trade-off →

2. Comparison shortlist

Which cities make useful reference points for Helena West Side?

Use the in-state set to hold state policy and broad price conditions more nearly constant. Use the nationwide size set to ask whether cities with a similar resident count produce different housing, income, or commute outcomes. The income set is a third lens, deliberately separate from population matching.

Within Montana, the closest population matches are Thompson Falls (1,568 residents, $53,203 income); Frenchtown (1,629 residents, $90,767 income); Baker (1,535 residents, $78,971 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Homer, MI (1,584 residents); Pilot Mountain, NC (1,584 residents); Beverly, OH (1,584 residents). A third, income-matched reference set of 6 out-of-state cities sits in the income neighbourhood chart near the Place Dossier plate. These are mechanical peer sets, not claims that the places share a labor market, climate, culture, or metro context.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 3

What does the journey to work look like in Helena West Side?

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 71.4%. A reliable mean commute time is not available for this row, so the mode shares carry the comparison.

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. No single mode completely explains the work trip here. The mix is more useful than a one-number commute grade, especially when comparing places where transit, walking, and remote work divide the non-driving share differently.

Compare commute patterns →

Population

1,584 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$67,692 /yr

Below median income · poverty 1.9% (Low poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

City profile score · Helena West Side, MT

68/100

4 published dimensions · ACS/FBI 2023

Comparative score against U.S. cities with population of 1,000 or more on Census ACS medians (income, poverty, bachelor's share, cost of living) and FBI UCR violent-crime rates when published. Higher means a stronger standing on those published figures, not a livability rating, not a recommendation to move, buy, or pick a "best" city. Missing inputs drop out and redistribute weight. How it is calculated.

Poverty rate A
1.9%

Share of residents below the poverty line; lower scores better on this axis.

Bachelor's+ share A-
48.3%

Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher; ACS.

Cost of living B-
94.6 index

BEA state Regional Price Parities index (100 ≈ national average); lower is stronger on this axis. Same value for every city in the state.

Household income D
$67,692

Median household income vs U.S. cities (pop ≥1,000); ACS.

Violent crime N/A
N/A

No FBI UCR violent-crime rate for this place (coverage is incomplete).

Helena West Side profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Poverty rate, Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living, Household income. Poverty rateBachelor's+ shareCost of livingHousehold income 68 B-
Helena West Side profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Poverty rate: 86/100 (A) · 1.9%
  • Bachelor's+ share: 82/100 (A-) · 48.3%
  • Cost of living: 66/100 (B-) · 94.6 index
  • Household income: 46/100 (D) · $67,692

How does Helena West Side compare to other US cities?

Here's how Helena West Side stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 47% higher than other cities
Home value 78% pricier than other cities
Median rent 61% 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

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

Montana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Helena West Side near the bottom of Montana's cities

Among the 317 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Helena West Side ranks #1 - the 0th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Helena West Side only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#107 of 282
62nd percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 317
0th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#55 of 279
80th percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#220 of 315
30th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#29 of 317
91st percentile in Montana
How in-state ranks are ordered

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.

47thIncome percentile
Gauge source note

47th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Helena West Side's home value compares nationally

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

$411,800 22nd percentile more affordable than 22% of 15,600 US cities

Show national distribution $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%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). This entry sits in this band. $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 West Side $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

Helena West Side's home-value-to-income ratio: 6.1×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
pressured
> 5.0×
National rank
#14,166 of 15,516
More affordable than 9% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#10,504 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 6.1×, Helena West Side sits in the pressured band: national rank #14,166 of 15,516 and #10,504 of 11,323micro cities (under 10,000). Housing value is high relative to the citywide income median, a comparison flag, not a verdict on any household.

How this ratio is calculated

Ratio = Census ACS 2023 median home value ÷ median household income for cities with both fields and population ≥ 1,000. Rank 1 = lowest ratio (most compact). Bands match the fleet affordability thresholds used on guides (<3.0 / 3.0–5.0 / >5.0). This is not a mortgage payment estimate and does not include rates, taxes, insurance, or down payment.

Income distribution context

$67,692 Helena West Side, MT median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Helena West Side, MT Helena West Side, MT's median household income ($67,692) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Helena West Side, MT-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Helena West Side, MT median $67,692/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 West Side, MT median household income (Census ACS 5-year) with U.S. national quintile shares for context. Diagonal = equality; the curve is national, not computed for Helena West Side, MT.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 48.3%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 1.9%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 74.0%

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

Population
1,584
Median Income
$67,692
Median Home Value
$411,800
Median Age
35.2
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Labor force participation
74.0%
Bachelor's Degree+
48.3%

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
71.4%
Carpool
10.6%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
5.8%
Work from Home
3.8%
Other
8.4%

Based on 933 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

Montana statewide monthly utility average (EIA 2023): $175

EIA 2023 residential energy data puts average monthly utilities across Montana at $175 (electricity about $80 , water and sewer about $40 ).

These are Montana statewide averages, not a meter reading for Helena West Side. Actual bills vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Montana's BEA cost-of-living index is 94.6 (Below Average; US average = 100, RPP 2024). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in the county around Helena West Side is $1,336/mo. FEMA's National Risk Index, averaged to Montana statewide on PlainCities, rates natural-hazard exposure at 33.3 / 100 (Very Low).

Cost/risk geography note

Cost of living is a Montana statewide BEA average; rent is a county-level HUD Fair Market Rent for the county Helena West Side sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Helena West Side compares to similar-size Montana cities

Same-state peer method

Closest same-state population matches, not geographic neighbors. Population + median household income come from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 and B19013.

City Population Median Household Income
Helena West Side (this city) 1,584 $67,692
Thompson Falls 1,568 $53,203
Frenchtown 1,629 $90,767
Baker 1,535 $78,971
Primary sources on this page

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.

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

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES. Joins use OMB Bulletin 23-01 / FIPS keys.

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Estimate caveats

ACS and UCR figures are citywide estimates with vintage lags; they do not replace a local visit, school visit, or insurance quote.

Editorial standards, provenance, and how to cite this page

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.

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