Population 33,333 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Helena
Household size in Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.09 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.21 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.23 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.15 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.06 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Helena is a place of small households, averaging 2.15 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.09, even as the national average fell. Of the 35 Montana cities with 5,000+ people, only three have smaller households.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 42.2 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 41.9 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Helena skews a little older than the country: its median age is 41.9, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 42.3, even as the national median rose. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the northeast.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.4% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 8.9% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.7% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Helena than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. That is in line with the rest of Montana. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 1.6 points, even as the national share fell.
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 Helena
Renters in Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.8% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 40.0% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 42.2% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 44.2% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +5.3 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
More than four in ten households in Helena rent their homes (44.2%), above the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 43.6% have no mortgage at all, above the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has risen 5.3 points, a much bigger shift than nationally. Only three of the 35 Montana cities with 5,000+ people have a higher share of renters.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 9.8% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.0% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in Helena: 7.0% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.9 points, mirroring the country.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1968 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1968 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1976 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +8 | +7 | +6 |
Housing in Helena leans a little older: the median home dates to 1976, against 1980 nationally. The median year built has moved up from 1968 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the north, the oldest in the south.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $738 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $810 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $857 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,150 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$412 | +$487 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Helena costs $1,150 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $412 a month since 2006–10, up 56%, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 26.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably 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 Helena
Bachelor's degrees in Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.9% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 42.3% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 47.1% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.4% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.5 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Helena is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (49.4%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 7.5 points, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southwest and least in the east.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.9% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.0% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.6% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.4% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Helena: 95.4% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Montana as a whole looks much the same. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.5 points since 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 Helena
| Period | Helena | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.3% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 4.9% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.1% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.2 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
The job market in Helena has been strong: just 3.1% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.2 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. 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).
Helena 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena | 2.15 | 41.9 | 9.0% | 44.2% | 7.0% | 1976 | $1,150 | 49.4% | 95.4% | 3.1% |
| Helena West Side | 2.26 | 44.0 | 6.9% | 26.4% | 6.9% | 1984 | $1,114 | 55.1% | 94.0% | 0.2% |
| Helena Valley West Central | 2.66 | 39.6 | 7.8% | 24.5% | 2.7% | 1988 | $1,377 | 41.9% | 96.8% | 4.3% |
| Fort Harrison | 2.43 | 47.3 | 4.4% | 9.5% | 8.2% | 1994 | $1,280 | 53.6% | 94.6% | 1.7% |
| Helena Valley Southeast | 2.73 | 38.7 | 16.6% | 16.3% | 6.1% | 1989 | $1,124 | 29.2% | 93.3% | 5.4% |
| Montana City | 2.81 | 40.7 | 5.8% | 5.8% | 3.4% | 1994 | $1,098 | 44.3% | 96.3% | 3.3% |
| Clancy | 2.79 | 42.0 | 4.9% | 7.8% | 4.7% | 1995 | $1,083 | 53.1% | 98.2% | 3.4% |
| Helena Valley Northeast | 2.68 | 48.2 | 3.3% | 2.2% | 14.3% | 1994 | $1,153 | 42.5% | 90.9% | 1.8% |
| East Helena | 2.32 | 43.3 | 7.5% | 18.0% | 9.8% | 1991 | $1,202 | 36.0% | 97.3% | 1.4% |
| Helena Valley Northwest | 3.03 | 36.7 | 7.9% | 5.1% | 3.5% | 2000 | $1,495 | 35.6% | 94.7% | 4.2% |
| Rimini | 2.15 | 51.5 | 5.6% | 13.2% | 13.1% | 1991 | $1,326 | 54.0% | 96.4% | 1.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Andover, MN · Willingboro, NJ · Westlake, OH · West Odessa, TX · West Falls Church, VA · West Chicago, IL · Watertown, NY · Warsaw, IN · Tifton, GA · Stevens Point, WI
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 Helena. 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.
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