City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Heron, MT

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

312
Residents
$29,357
Median income
$415,400
Median home
$1,336
Median rent (state)
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Side-by-side metrics and state or size-class ranks use the same Census and FBI fields shown on this profile. Results stay in the URL so you can bookmark or share them.

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Starting with Heron, 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 Heron.

Place dossier plate

Sheet MT-HERON-MT · Heron, MT 312 pop · income 2nd pct

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

  • POP-VILLAGE 312
  • INC-LOW $29,357
  • COL-BELOW 94.6
  • SAFE-UNK Safety pending
  • RANK-BOTTOM 2nd
  • PHOTO-FINISH ≈ Enigma
  • HOME-HIGH $415,400
  • BOOK-UNK Tracts pending

Nearest income peer: Enigma, GA (+ $18 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 Heron

Lowest/highest poles plus peers nearest Heron 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 Heron 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: 312.

4 peers

Similar household income

Nearest out-of-state cities by ACS median household income. This city: $29,357. Population peers are excluded.

4 peers

Heron - the verdict

Nationally, Heron sits in the 2nd percentile for household income among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS.

2nd
percentile, household income
79th
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: Heron, MT

Montana's Heron is a small town, with 312 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Households in Heron report a median income of $29,357 per year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 49.4%. Typical homes in Heron are valued around $415,400, and the median resident age is 31.7 years. About 36.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 36.7% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

NOAA puts Heron's yearly average temperature at 45.1°F with 34.2 inches of precipitation per year and 84.3 inches of snowfall.

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). Workers in Heron report an average commute of 17.0 minutes, with 78.8% driving alone and 21.3% working from home. On FEMA's National Risk Index, this area rates 33.3 out of 100 for natural-hazard exposure (Very Low).

A decision-led reading path

Useful questions to ask of Heron'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 climate and hazard context to work and mobility; another city can have a different sequence or fewer supported layers because the source joins are not uniform.

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

Question 1

How far does income reach against housing in Heron?

The home-value-to-income reference is comparatively stretched: the ACS median home value is 14.1 times median household income. The ACS poverty estimate is 49.4%, which keeps the citywide median from describing every household.

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.

Compare the housing trade-off →

Question 2

Which cities make useful reference points for Heron?

Within Montana, the closest population matches are Bainville (313 residents, $115,000 income); Martin (313 residents); Yaak (310 residents, $56,250 income). Outside the state, the closest population matches in this dataset are Waverly, AL (312 residents); Copper Center, AK (312 residents); Oden, AR (312 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.

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.

Open a side-by-side comparison →

Question 3

What physical conditions frame life in Heron?

NOAA normals put the annual mean temperature at 45.1°F, with 34.2 inches of precipitation and 84.3 inches of annual snowfall. FEMA's state-averaged National Risk Index score for Montana is 33.3 out of 100. Climate normals describe long-run weather; the FEMA score on PlainCities is a state average of county NRI inputs and combines hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and resilience.

The two sources should not be blended into one comfort or safety score. Use the climate values for baseline conditions and the risk index as a prompt to inspect specific hazards, insurance, and local emergency guidance for a particular address.

Read the source boundaries →

4. Work and mobility

What does the journey to work look like in Heron?

Mode share answers how workers usually travel; it does not measure congestion, reliability, distance to a particular job, or the quality of transit service. Remote work has a visible role in the local pattern. That can reduce commute exposure for some workers, but it says nothing about job availability or broadband quality; read it alongside income and housing rather than as a stand-alone lifestyle score.

Driving alone is the largest reported mode at 78.8%. The reported mean trip to work is 17.0 minutes.

Compare commute patterns →

Population

312 residents

Micro place (under 10k)

Median Household Income

$29,357 /yr

Lowest-decile income · poverty 49.4% (Highest-decile poverty)

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Near national cost · BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

City profile score · Heron, MT

29/100

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.

Bachelor's+ share B-
36.1%

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 F
$29,357

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

Poverty rate F
49.4%

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

Violent crime N/A
N/A

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

Heron profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions) 4-axis radar comparing 1 series across Bachelor's+ share, Cost of living, Household income, Poverty rate. Bachelor's+ shareCost of livingHousehold incomePoverty rate 29 F
Heron profile (scored ACS/FBI dimensions)
Read the chart values
  • Bachelor's+ share: 68/100 (B-) · 36.1%
  • Cost of living: 66/100 (B-) · 94.6 index
  • Household income: 0/100 (F) · $29,357
  • Poverty rate: 0/100 (F) · 49.4%

How does Heron compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 2% higher than other cities
Home value 79% 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 Heron 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 Heron near the bottom of Montana's cities

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

Median Household Income
#272 of 282
4th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#1 of 317
0th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#53 of 279
81st percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#9 of 315
97th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#58 of 317
81st 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.

2ndIncome percentile
Gauge source note

2nd percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Heron's home value compares nationally

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

$415,400 21st percentile more affordable than 21% 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. Heron $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

Heron's home-value-to-income ratio: 14.1×

ACS median home value divided by median household income.

Band
pressured
> 5.0×
National rank
#15,485 of 15,516
More affordable than 0% of tracked cities (pop. 1,000+)
Size class
#11,301 of 11,323
Micro cities (under 10,000)

At 14.1×, Heron sits in the pressured band: national rank #15,485 of 15,516 and #11,301 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

$29,357 Heron, MT median household income (Census ACS)

Show U.S. national quintile / Lorenz context Household income distribution - Heron, MT Heron, MT's median household income ($29,357) against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern. The Lorenz curve and quintile bars are national context, not Heron, MT-specific shares. $ Household Income Distribution Heron, MT median $29,357/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%
Heron, 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 Heron, MT.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 36.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 49.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 36.7%

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

Population
312
Median Income
$29,357
Median Home Value
$415,400
Median Age
31.7
Poverty Rate
49.4%
Labor force participation
36.7%
Bachelor's Degree+
36.1%

Climate

Avg Temperature
45.1°F
Annual Precipitation
34.2"
Annual Snowfall
84.3"

Commute Patterns

Commute source

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
17.0 minutes
Drive Alone
78.8%
Carpool
0.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
0.0%
Work from Home
21.3%

Based on 80 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 Heron. 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 Heron 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 Heron sits in; the FEMA hazard score shown here is a statewide average of county NRI inputs, not a parcel-level reading.

How Heron 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
Heron (this city) 312 $29,357
Bainville 313 $115,000
Martin 313 N/A
Yaak 310 $56,250
NOAA Normals
Primary sources on this page

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