Population 3,679 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Median age by neighborhoodHistory and comparison ↓︎
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Population and households in Shepherd
Household size in Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.53 | 2.41 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.65 | 2.45 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.70 | 2.44 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.51 | 2.44 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.03 | +0.03 | −0.03 |
The average household in Shepherd has 2.51 people, a bit under the U.S. average of 2.65. The picture is much the same across Montana.
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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 44.6 | 39.9 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 44.7 | 40.8 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.1 | 41.5 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.2 | 41.5 | 40.1 |
| Change | −1.4 | +1.6 | +2.3 |
Shepherd skews older than the country: its median age is 43.2, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has dropped from 44.6, but in a place this small, much of that may be survey noise rather than real change.
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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.1% | 9.4% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.3% | 9.8% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.6% | 8.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.7% | 8.8% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.6 pts | −0.6 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in Shepherd: 5.7% 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 Shepherd
Renters in Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.7% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 11.9% | 32.3% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.1% | 31.9% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 6.1% | 30.8% | 34.8% |
| Change | −5.7 pts | −0.1 pts | +1.5 pts |
Shepherd is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 6.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About half of owners (49.5%) have paid off their mortgages, 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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.7% | 13.2% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 10.6% | 13.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.5% | 14.1% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 10.5% | 12.2% | 9.6% |
| Change | +1.8 pts | −0.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Shepherd as nationally: 10.5%, against 9.6%. The rate is lower than in Montana as a whole (12.2%).
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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1979 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1980 | 1977 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1982 | 1978 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1991 | 1982 | 1980 |
| Change | +11 | +7 | +6 |
Much of the housing in Shepherd is relatively new: half of its homes were built after 1991, compared with 1980 for the U.S. as a whole.
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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $776 | $703 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $828 | $775 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $823 | $870 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,461 | $1,189 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$685 | +$487 | +$606 |
Rent in Shepherd runs $1,461 a month at the median, utilities included, below the U.S. median of $1,571. Still, rents here are higher than in Montana as a whole ($1,189). The typical renter here spends 29.4% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally.
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 Shepherd
Bachelor's degrees in Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 21.2% | 28.7% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 22.8% | 29.8% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 32.2% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 25.4% | 35.3% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.2 pts | +6.6 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Shepherd have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 25.4%, against 35.6% nationally.
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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.3% | 91.2% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.6% | 92.6% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.7% | 93.6% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 96.4% | 94.6% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.1 pts | +3.4 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in Shepherd: 96.4% 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 Shepherd
| Period | Shepherd | Montana | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.8% | 5.7% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 9.9% | 6.9% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 4.2% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.4% | 3.7% | 5.4% |
| Change | −0.5 pts | −2.0 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Shepherd is the same as the national rate: 5.4% of the labor force. The rate is higher than in Montana overall (3.7%). 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).
Shepherd 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shepherd | 2.51 | 43.2 | 5.7% | 6.1% | 10.5% | 1991 | $1,461 | 25.4% | 96.4% | 5.4% |
| Huntley | 2.37 | 42.5 | 6.0% | 15.2% | 7.1% | 1987 | $1,125 | 25.2% | 96.3% | 1.0% |
| Billings Heights | 2.73 | 39.6 | 10.9% | 11.7% | 6.9% | 2001 | $2,018 | 30.8% | 94.6% | 1.8% |
| Worden | 2.70 | 41.7 | 7.1% | 15.3% | 7.1% | 1994 | $880 | 26.9% | 92.6% | 3.1% |
| Lockwood | 2.76 | 38.0 | 17.4% | 22.5% | 4.8% | 1984 | $1,204 | 18.6% | 93.6% | 4.0% |
| Ballantine | 2.29 | 43.2 | 5.0% | 14.6% | 9.5% | 1983 | $938 | 23.6% | 95.9% | 2.3% |
| Billings | 2.38 | 39.4 | 10.0% | 32.3% | 7.2% | 1982 | $1,308 | 35.0% | 95.4% | 3.6% |
| Acton | 2.68 | 43.0 | 12.6% | 10.4% | 10.2% | 1999 | $1,417 | 28.6% | 93.6% | 1.9% |
| Hesper | 2.41 | 40.3 | 5.7% | 31.9% | 3.8% | 2004 | $1,484 | 35.1% | 95.6% | 1.6% |
| Broadview | 2.64 | 44.8 | 12.0% | 10.1% | 11.6% | 1995 | $1,178 | 26.7% | 93.3% | 2.0% |
| Pompeys Pillar | 2.28 | 49.2 | 4.8% | 12.2% | 11.7% | 1981 | $601 | 19.9% | 94.1% | 6.3% |
All figures 2020–24.
Cities with similar populations: Campton, KY · Cottage Hills, IL · Edwards, IL · Falconer, NY · George West, TX · Goulding, FL · Gunnison, UT · Howards Grove, WI · Lafayette, NY · Arcade, NY
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 Shepherd. 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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