Population 1,550 · Census ACS 2020–24
Choose a measure to map it.Tap a measure to map it. Swipe the row for more. Arrows show the change since 2006–10.
Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
Younger residents
Older residents
Colorblind friendly
off
More maps of Fort Benton: Best Neighborhoods · Walk Grade · Household income · Home prices · Race · Politics · Traffic noise · Internet
Population and households in Fort Benton
Household size in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.18 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.05 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.34 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.53 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.35 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Fort Benton has 2.53 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. Even so, the typical household here is bigger than in Montana overall, where it has 2.44 people. Household size has climbed from 2.18 in 2006–10, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 52.3 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 54.2 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 41.6 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.1 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −9.2 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Fort Benton skews older than the country: its median age is 43.1, against 40.1 nationally.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.5% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 5.5% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.4% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −2.0 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Fort Benton: 2.4% of households, against 11.6% nationally.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in Fort Benton
Renters in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.2% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.1% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.4% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 22.1% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −4.1 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Fort Benton is largely a place of homeowners: only 22.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 49.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.4% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.3% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 19.4% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.9% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +9.5 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in Fort Benton: 25.9% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1956 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1955 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1959 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +6 | +7 | +6 |
Fort Benton is a place of older homes: half were built before 1959, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $531 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $590 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $584 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $726 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$195 | +$487 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Fort Benton costs $726 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 29.9% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in Fort Benton
Bachelor's degrees in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 25.3% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.3% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 31.3% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 29.5% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are a little less common in Fort Benton than nationally: 29.5% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 91.3% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 97.5% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.5% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.4 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Fort Benton: 96.5% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in Fort Benton
| Period | Fort Benton | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1.2% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 1.8% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 5.3% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 0.2% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Fort Benton has been strong: just 0.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Fort Benton compared with nearby cities
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fort Benton | 2.53 | 43.1 | 2.4% | 22.1% | 25.9% | 1959 | $726 | 29.5% | 96.5% | 0.2% |
| Square Butte | 2.25 | 46.6 | 1.2% | 34.6% | 27.4% | 1970 | $391 | 22.0% | 95.7% | 3.1% |
| Carter | 2.32 | 46.0 | 1.4% | 32.2% | 28.2% | 1967 | $455 | 23.2% | 96.4% | 2.9% |
| Loma | 2.48 | 46.3 | 8.0% | 26.4% | 21.5% | 1972 | $1,051 | 20.9% | 97.9% | 0.7% |
| Montague | 2.65 | 43.2 | 2.6% | 26.1% | 32.0% | 1957 | $770 | 27.8% | 97.5% | 3.7% |
| Highwood | 2.63 | 43.1 | 2.5% | 26.4% | 31.5% | 1958 | $764 | 28.3% | 97.4% | 3.5% |
| Shonkin | 2.65 | 43.2 | 2.6% | 26.1% | 32.0% | 1957 | $770 | 27.8% | 97.5% | 3.7% |
| Virgelle | 2.56 | 45.1 | 6.1% | 25.9% | 25.5% | 1966 | $964 | 23.6% | 97.8% | 1.8% |
| Portage | 2.66 | 44.8 | 2.6% | 17.0% | 15.9% | 1981 | $1,027 | 24.5% | 93.1% | 1.1% |
| Floweree | 2.51 | 45.9 | 2.1% | 24.2% | 20.3% | 1977 | $780 | 22.4% | 94.2% | 1.9% |
| Geraldine | 2.65 | 43.2 | 2.6% | 26.1% | 32.0% | 1957 | $770 | 27.8% | 97.5% | 3.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Dunlap, IA · Wassaic, NY · Warren, IL · Wakefield, MS · Verplanck, NY · Congerville, IL · Turtletown, TN · Dibble, OK · Dove, MO · Dover, MI
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up Fort Benton. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
No other site shows detail at this level for free. We are able to keep this site free by receiving a small commission from the referring links on this page. Please share or cite this page if you aren’t able to otherwise support our work.