Population 143 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Ruby
Household size in Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.01 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.00 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.86 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.41 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.40 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
Households in Ruby run small, averaging 2.41 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. That is in line with the rest of Montana. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.01, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 51.3 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 58.2 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 47.2 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 57.7 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | +6.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Ruby skews older: half of its residents are older than 57.7, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.1% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.6% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.2% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head only 1.2% of households in Ruby, well below the national share of 11.6%.
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 Ruby
Renters in Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 26.3% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 19.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 18.7% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 11.5% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −14.8 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Only 11.5% of households in Ruby rent their homes, far below the national share of 34.8%, so most residents are owners who tend to stay put. Nearly six in ten owners (58.0%) have paid off their mortgages, well 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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 24.3% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 37.3% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 45.6% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 34.5% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +10.2 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacant homes make up 34.5% of the housing in Ruby, 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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1975 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1979 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1983 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1988 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +13 | +7 | +6 |
Ruby has newer housing than the country as a whole: the median home was built in 1988, versus 1980 nationally.
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $533 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $585 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $702 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $725 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$192 | +$487 | +$606 |
The median renter in Ruby pays $725 a month for rent and utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rent takes 25.8% 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 Ruby
Bachelor's degrees in Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.8% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 27.3% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 28.8% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 33.0% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in Ruby as nationally: 33.0% 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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.8% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.2% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 92.3% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | −1.0 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
About nine in ten adults in Ruby have finished high school (92.3%), a bit above the national rate of 89.3%. Even so, the rate is lower than in Montana as a whole (94.6%).
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 Ruby
| Period | Ruby | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.7% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Ruby has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Ruby 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | 2.41 | 57.7 | 1.2% | 11.5% | 34.5% | 1988 | $725 | 33.0% | 92.3% | 2.9% |
| Laurin | 2.41 | 57.7 | 1.2% | 11.5% | 34.5% | 1988 | $725 | 33.0% | 92.3% | 2.9% |
| Alder | 2.41 | 57.7 | 1.2% | 11.5% | 34.5% | 1988 | $725 | 33.0% | 92.3% | 2.9% |
| Virginia City | 2.41 | 57.1 | 1.4% | 11.7% | 36.2% | 1989 | $781 | 33.5% | 92.4% | 2.9% |
| Sheridan | 2.35 | 58.4 | 0.9% | 16.3% | 16.9% | 1982 | $869 | 30.2% | 94.9% | 2.5% |
| Varney | 2.44 | 46.8 | 4.9% | 15.5% | 64.5% | 1998 | $1,724 | 42.9% | 94.3% | 3.7% |
| Mc Allister | 2.60 | 44.3 | 1.4% | 16.3% | 42.4% | 2002 | $912 | 27.8% | 91.5% | 1.9% |
| Ennis | 2.27 | 48.1 | 2.1% | 23.8% | 35.9% | 2001 | $1,111 | 35.1% | 91.8% | 5.9% |
| Twin Bridges | 2.44 | 52.4 | 2.8% | 29.2% | 18.4% | 1989 | $1,153 | 32.1% | 97.2% | 2.2% |
| Jeffers | 2.60 | 40.9 | 1.8% | 18.6% | 45.8% | 2006 | $975 | 30.5% | 91.2% | 2.5% |
| Norris | 2.69 | 46.8 | 1.7% | 12.9% | 45.0% | 1997 | $1,086 | 23.8% | 92.8% | 0.2% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Sherack, MN · Johnsburg, IN · Johnsonville, AL · Johnsonville, IN · Johnstown, MO · Joker, WV · Joppa, KY · Shamrock, FL · Shanghai City, IL · Sharon, GA
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 Ruby. 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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