Population 73,464 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Lewis and Clark County
Household size in Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.33 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.41 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.40 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.40 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.07 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Lewis and Clark County is a place of small households, averaging 2.40 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 2.33, even as the national average fell. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the east.
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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.9 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.8 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.3 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 42.2 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Lewis and Clark County is 42.2 years old, a bit older than the national median of 40.1. The median age has climbed from 40.9 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the center and oldest in the west.
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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.4% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 9.4% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.5% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.0% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are less common in Lewis and Clark County than nationally: 9.0%, against 11.6%. The picture is much the same across Montana. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 0.6 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 Lewis and Clark County
Renters in Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 27.2% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 28.4% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 30.6% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 29.9% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | +2.7 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in Lewis and Clark County own their homes; 29.9% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. About four in ten owners (38.9%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the south and least common in the east. The renter share is up 2.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.3% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 10.7% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.4% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Lewis and Clark County as nationally: 8.4%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Montana overall (12.2%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.8 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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1977 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1978 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1981 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1984 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +7 | +7 | +6 |
Homes in Lewis and Clark County are a bit newer than the national norm: the median home was built in 1984, versus 1980 across the U.S. The median year built has moved up from 1977 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the west, while the south has the oldest housing.
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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $811 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $885 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $900 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,193 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$382 | +$487 | +$606 |
The median renter in Lewis and Clark County pays $1,193 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $382 a month from 2006–10, a 47% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Renters on a budget will find the lowest rents in the east; the highest are in the center.
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 Lewis and Clark County
Bachelor's degrees in Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 33.9% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 36.8% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 39.2% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 42.7% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.9 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Just over four in ten adults 25 and older in Lewis and Clark County (42.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 8.9 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Few Montana counties have a higher share of college graduates: only two of 56.
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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.2% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.5% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +0.9 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Lewis and Clark County: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. That is in line with the rest of Montana. The share with a diploma has edged up 0.9 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 Lewis and Clark County
| Period | Lewis and Clark County | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.7% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 5.4% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.0% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.3% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Lewis and Clark County has been low: just 3.3% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.4 points, in line with the national trend. 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).
Lewis and Clark County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark County | 2.40 | 42.2 | 9.0% | 29.9% | 8.4% | 1984 | $1,193 | 42.7% | 95.0% | 3.3% |
| Jefferson County | 2.54 | 45.5 | 6.2% | 15.8% | 6.6% | 1988 | $1,009 | 33.6% | 94.5% | 4.5% |
| Broadwater County | 2.79 | 46.0 | 5.1% | 12.2% | 12.8% | 1999 | $1,054 | 27.0% | 92.3% | 2.4% |
| Powell County | 2.24 | 45.9 | 5.6% | 27.5% | 16.5% | 1965 | $840 | 20.0% | 93.6% | 2.5% |
| Meagher County | 2.15 | 53.5 | 0.8% | 24.6% | 36.3% | 1974 | $1,244 | 30.7% | 91.9% | 0.3% |
| Deer Lodge County | 2.05 | 47.8 | 6.9% | 27.0% | 16.7% | 1955 | $721 | 25.0% | 92.7% | 3.9% |
| Granite County | 2.25 | 52.4 | 6.0% | 22.1% | 36.5% | 1981 | $678 | 33.6% | 93.9% | 3.7% |
| Judith Basin County | 2.25 | 46.2 | 5.6% | 27.3% | 27.3% | 1967 | $497 | 31.1% | 92.9% | 0.1% |
| Missoula County | 2.29 | 38.5 | 8.7% | 41.2% | 8.0% | 1984 | $1,331 | 47.0% | 96.6% | 3.4% |
| Ravalli County | 2.56 | 48.6 | 6.0% | 20.6% | 12.3% | 1988 | $1,131 | 29.0% | 93.4% | 3.0% |
| Wheatland County | 2.18 | 43.9 | 7.5% | 24.5% | 23.9% | 1959 | $849 | 23.3% | 93.6% | 0.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Harrison County, WV · Toa Alta Municipio, PR · Tehama County, CA · Surry County, NC · Sullivan County, NY · Lauderdale County, MS · Klamath County, OR · Kauai County, HI · Jefferson County, OH · Jefferson County, AR
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 Lewis and Clark County. 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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