City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Plains, MT

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

1,077
Residents
$24,661
Median income
$209,200
Median home
$1,361
Median rent (state)

Plains - the verdict

Nationally, Plains sits in the 1st percentile for household income and the 89th percentile for safety among US cities with a population of 1,000 or more. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

1st
percentile, household income
45th
percentile, home value
52nd
percentile, median rent
89th
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: Plains, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 1,077 residents in Plains, a small town within Montana. The typical household in Plains brings in $24,661 a year, in the lower quartile of U.S. cities for household income, with a poverty rate of 12.4%. Typical homes in Plains are valued around $209,200, and the median resident age is 43.5 years. About 20.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, while 52.5% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

Plains reports a comparatively low crime rate: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 396.5 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, below the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,361 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Commute times here average 15.6 minutes, with 60.6% driving alone and 14.4% working from home, per Census ACS commuting data. FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 7.3 out of 100 (Very Low).

Population

1,077 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$24,661 /yr

Poverty 12.4%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Plains compare to other US cities?

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

Household income 1% higher than other cities
Home value 45% pricier than other cities
Median rent 52% pricier than other cities
Safety 89% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Montana, Plains ranks #3 of 39 Montana cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

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 Plains'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.

1stIncome percentile
89thSafety percentile

1st percentile nationally for median household income · 89th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Plains's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Plains'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 47 Avg. percentile National median
Plains'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 Plains's home value compares nationally

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

$209,200 Among the most affordable more affordable than 55% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Above this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Above this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $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. Plains $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 - Plains, MT Plains, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Plains, 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 Plains, MT median $24,661/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%
Plains, 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 Plains, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 20.0%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 12.4%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 52.5%

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

Population
1,077
Median Income
$24,661
Median Home Value
$209,200
Median Age
43.5
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Labor force participation
52.5%
Bachelor's Degree+
20.0%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
396.5
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
0.0
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
396.5
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
3
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
1,100 residents1,150 residents1,200 residents1,250 residents1,300 residents 202020212022202320242025 1,115 residents 1,261 residents ▲ +13.1%
Plains's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
15.6 minutes
Drive Alone
60.6%
Carpool
14.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
11.0%
Work from Home
14.4%

Based on 493 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 Plains sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,361/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
7.3 / 100
Very Low
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Gallatin Gateway
1,092 people
White Sulphur Springs
1,097 people
Harlowton
1,054 people
St. Ignatius
1,053 people
Churchill
1,120 people
Pray
1,018 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Plains's 1,077 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Grandview, IL
1,077 people
Eden Valley, MN
1,077 people
Mount Royal, NJ
1,077 people
Dover Plains, NY
1,077 people
New Hackensack, NY
1,077 people
Apple Creek, OH
1,077 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Plains's $24,661 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Laurel, IN
$24,663 median income
Lake Providence, LA
$24,670 median income
Pamplico, SC
$24,646 median income
Allakaket, AK
$24,688 median income
Jamestown, TN
$24,688 median income
Las Carolinas comunidad, PR
$24,688 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Plains, 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 Plains, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 91.2% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 0.2% White 91.2% Black or African American 1.5% Asian 0.0% American Indian 1.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.0% Two or more races 6.3% 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 Plains 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
Plains (this city) 1,077 $24,661
Gallatin Gateway 1,092 $81,429
White Sulphur Springs 1,097 $56,424
Harlowton 1,054 $53,750
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT FBI UCR NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Plains, MT?

What is the population of Plains, MT? +

The population of Plains, MT stands at 1,077 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

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

Plains households earn a median of $24,661 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Plains? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Plains; 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 Plains, MT safe? +

Plains has a total crime rate of 396.5 per 100,000 residents, which is below 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 Plains, MT? +

The median home value in Plains is $209,200, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

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

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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.