State
Montana
Montana. Montana had 1,144,694 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 5.6% since 2020, faster than the United States (+3.1%). 497 places (127 incorporated and 370 census-designated) in 56 counties; 145,550 square miles of land.
Residents, 2025 estimate
1,144,694
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 1,084,225
Median household income
$72,509
±$761 (90% margin)
Median home value
$375,800
±$3,433 (90% margin)
Median gross rent
$1,081
±$14 (90% margin)
How many people live in Montana?
The 2020 Census counted 1,084,225 residents in Montana. The Census Bureau estimates 1,144,694 for July 1, 2025, up 5.6% since 2020, faster than the United States (+3.1%). 70.5% of residents live in an incorporated place or a census-designated place; the rest live outside any place.
Montana is the 43rd-most populous of the 50 states by the July 2025 estimates (every state ranked).
| Measure | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 1,116,875 | +66,226 |
| Households | 458,859 ±3,762 | +30,988 |
| Average household size | 2.37 ±0.02 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 528,419 ±3,257 | +18,239 |
Montana's population since 2000
From 902,195 in 2000 to 1,144,694 in 2025: up 26.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); PEP Vintage 2025; 2020 Census · Check it at data.census.gov
What are the largest cities in Montana?
Billings is Montana's largest place with 121,239 residents in 2025, followed by Missoula (78,903 residents in 2025) and Great Falls (60,208 residents in 2025).
| Place | Residents | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Billings | 121,239 | $73,712 |
| Missoula | 78,903 | $70,392 |
| Great Falls | 60,208 | $63,373 |
| Bozeman | 58,814 | $85,747 |
| Butte-Silver Bow | 35,469 | $61,857 |
| Helena | 35,138 | $71,036 |
| Kalispell | 31,851 | $63,415 |
| Belgrade | 13,107 | $97,328 |
| Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | 9,709 | $57,527 |
| Evergreen | 9,611 | $76,446 |
| Whitefish | 9,358 | $73,811 |
| Livingston | 9,290 | $65,861 |
| Havre | 9,264 | $50,329 |
| Helena Valley Southeast | 9,108 | $74,075 |
| Miles City | 8,450 | $67,727 |
| Helena Valley West Central | 8,056 | $90,082 |
| Laurel | 7,205 | $68,474 |
| Lockwood | 7,181 | $75,700 |
| Sidney | 6,217 | $62,538 |
| Lewistown | 6,179 | $48,750 |
| Four Corners | 5,791 | $100,917 |
| Columbia Falls | 5,753 | $75,766 |
| Polson | 5,653 | $53,418 |
| Orchard Homes | 5,588 | $64,904 |
| Bigfork | 5,565 | $85,307 |
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025); American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · Census population estimates
What counties are in Montana?
Montana has 56 counties. Yellowstone County is the largest with 172,692 residents in 2025; Petroleum County is the smallest with 548.
Source: PEP Vintage 2025 (CO-EST2025), U.S. Census Bureau · Census population estimates
Who lives in Montana?
The median resident of Montana is 40.4 years old; 21.0% are under 18 and 20.1% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 83.6%, then non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaska Native residents at 5.3%. 2.3% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.4 ±0.2 | +0.5 |
| Under 18 years | 21.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| 65 years and over | 20.1% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4.6% ±0.1 pts | +0.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 83.6% ±0.2 pts | −2.5 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.4% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.8% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 5.3% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.5% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.3% ±0.1 pts | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 4.2% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 9.0% ±0.2 pts | – |
| With a disability | 14.5% ±0.2 pts | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 8.6% ±0.3 pts | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 94.6% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.2% ±0.4 pts | +3.2 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.0% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.7% ±0.2 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Montana earn?
Half of Montana's 458,859 households earn less than $72,509 a year (±$761). In 2015-2019 the median was $67,651 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $4,858 after inflation. 11.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $72,509 ±$761 | +$4,858 |
| Mean household income | $98,908 ±$1,104 | – |
| Per capita income | $41,711 ±$477 | +$3,374 |
| People below the poverty line | 11.5% ±0.3 pts | −1.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 12.7% ±0.7 pts | −3.1 pts |
| Households receiving SNAP | 7.8% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.4% ±0.3 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Montana?
Owners occupy 69.2% of Montana's occupied homes and renters 30.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $375,800 by its owner (±$3,433). The median renter pays $1,081 a month including utilities, and 35.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $375,800 ±$3,433 | +$92,002 |
| Median gross rent | $1,081 ±$14 | +$84 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 35.5% ±1.1 pts | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,798 ±$20 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.2% ±0.5 pts | +1.1 pts |
| Housing units | 528,419 ±3,257 | +18,239 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.9% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.3% ±0.6 pts | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 68.8% ±0.5 pts | – |
| Mobile homes | 9.4% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 2.3% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 12.8% ±0.3 pts | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Montana building?
Builders took permits for 5,258 new housing units in Montana in 2025 (2,675 single-family), 4.6 per 1,000 residents.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual county files summed by state, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Montana get to work?
71.1% of Montana's workers drive alone and 12.5% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.6%.
| Measure | Montana | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 62.9% ±0.3 pts | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.6% ±0.2 pts | −0.4 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 71.1% ±0.6 pts | – |
| Carpooled | 9.7% ±0.4 pts | – |
| Public transportation | 0.6% ±0.1 pts | – |
| Walked | 3.9% ±0.2 pts | – |
| Worked from home | 12.5% ±0.4 pts | +6.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.1 min ±0.2 | +0.8 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections