Helena, Montana Population 2024

35,540

Helena is a city located in Lewis and Clark County Montana. Helena has a 2024 population of 35,540. It is also the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. Helena is currently growing at a rate of 2.39% annually and its population has increased by 10.27% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 32,230 in 2020.

The average household income in Helena is $90,089 with a poverty rate of 10.14%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to - per month, and the median house value is -. The median age in Helena is 39.9 years, 38.1 years for males, and 42.5 years for females.

In addition to being the county seat of Lewis and Clark County, it is also the state capital. The city was established in the 19th century during the Montana gold rush, and billions of dollars in gold was found in the city, as a result making Helena one of the wealthiest cities in the US during its early history.

Growth of Population in Helena

The city of Helena has seen its population rise since the census taken in 1930. While growth did slow a bit during the late 20th and early 21st centuries, recent estimates show that the population has risen by over 10% since the last population in 2010.

Helena Demographics

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Helena was:

  • White: 91.83%
  • Two or more races: 4.37%
  • Native American: 1.4%
  • Asian: 0.94%
  • Black or African American: 0.92%
  • Other race: 0.54%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0%
State
Montana
Land Area (mi²)
16.8 sq mi
Density (mi²)
2,112.90/sq mi
Growth Since 2020
10.27% (3,310)
The current population of Helena, Montana is 35,540 based on our projections of the latest US Census estimates.The last official US Census in 2020 recorded the population at 32,230.

Helena, Montana Population 2024

Population by Race

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Race
Population
Percentage (of total)
White29,87291.83%
Two or more races1,4214.37%
Native American4551.4%
Asian3070.94%
Black or African American2990.92%
Other race1750.54%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander00%

White

Two or more races

Native American

Asian

Black or African American

Other race

Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander

Helena Population by Race

Helena Population Pyramid 2024

Helena Median Age

39.9

Total

38.1

Male

42.5

Female

Helena Adults

There are 26,434 adults, (6,780 of whom are seniors) in Helena.

Helena Age Dependency

65.5

Age Dependency Ratio

34.5

Old Age Dependency Ratio

31

Child Dependency Ratio

Helena Sex Ratio

Female17,05552.43%
Male15,47447.57%

Helena Population by Age

Helena Renter vs Owner Occupied by Household Type

Household Type
Count
Average Size
Owner
Renter
All15,2332.0455.244.8
Non Family8,0091.2639.760.3
Married5,4902.8777.622.4
Female1,2683.0856.943.1
Male4662.8751.748.3

2.82

Average Family Size

2.04

Average Household Size

55.2%

Rate of Home Ownership

Married

Male

Female

NonFamily

owner

renter

Helena Households and Families

Male

Female

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Less Than 9th Grade

9th to 12th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelors Degree

Graduate Degree

Helena Educational Attainment by Sex (over 25)

Helena Educational Attainment by Race

High School Graduation Rate

Bachelors Rate

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The highest rate of high school graduation is among 2+ races people with a rate of 98.57%.

The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 86.89%.

Helena Educational Attainment by Race

All

Male

Female

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$48,563

Average Earnings

$55,751

Average Male

$42,866

Average Female

Helena Earnings by Educational Attainment

Helena Language by Age

Only English

Spanish

Other Indo-European Languages

Asian and Pacific Island Languages

Other Languages

Helena Language

96.33% of Helena residents speak only English, while 3.67% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Other Indo-European, which is spoken by 1.82% of the population.

Helena Language

Helena Poverty by Race

rate

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Name
Total
In Poverty
Poverty Rate
White27,5322,5739.35%
Hispanic1,51821514.16%
Native39118046.04%
Multiple1,3661339.74%
Black2938027.3%

10.14%

Overall Poverty Rate

9.5%

Male Poverty Rate

10.74%

Female Poverty Rate

Poverty in Helena

The race most likely to be in poverty in Helena is Native, with 46.04% below the poverty level.

The race least likely to be in poverty in Helena is White, with 9.35% below the poverty level.

The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 1.87%. Among those working part-time, it was 14.46%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 17.7%.

Helena Poverty

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Less Than 9th Grade34.72%
High School17.62%
Some College8.99%
Bachelors or Greater2.89%

Helena Poverty Rate by Education

rate

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Rate
Poverty
Female Unemployed23.37%
Female Employed9.1%
Male Unemployed4.46%
Male Employed3.37%

Helena Poverty Rate by Employment Status and Sex

Helena Income by Household Type

Households

Families

MarriedFamilies

NonFamilies

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mean

median

Income by Household Type

Helena Marital Status

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Marriage Rates

41.6%

Overall Marriage Rate

44.6%

Male Marriage Rate

38.9%

Female Marriage Rate

Helena Married by Age and Sex

male

female

Helena Marriage

The age group where males are most likely to be married is 35-44, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.

Helena Marital Status by Race

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

NeverMarried

Helena Marital Status

Second Gulf War

First Gulf War

Vietnam

Korea

World War II

2,151

Number of Veterans

1,776

Male Veterans

375

Female Veterans

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Helena Veterans by War

count

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Helena Veterans by Age

count

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Helena Veterans by Race

Helena Veterans by Education

Less Than 9th Grade

High School Graduate

Some College

Bachelors or Greater

14.53%

Veteran Poverty Rate

32.6%

Veteran Disability Rate

Helena Veterans by Education

LaborForceParticipation

64.3%

Labor Force Participation

61.8%

Employment Rate

3.2%

Unemployment Rate

Helena Employment by Age

LaborForceParticipation

Helena Employment by Race

LaborForceParticipation

Helena Employment by Education

Origin of Non-Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.

Origin of Naturalized Citizens

Europe

Asia

Africa

Oceania

Latin America

North America

50.29%

Born in Helena

98.22%

Native Born

1.78%

Foreign Born

0.78%

Non Citizen

1%

Naturalized

Place of Birth

98.22% of Helena residents were born in the United States, with 50.29% having been born in Montana. 0.78% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Asia.

Helena Place of Birth

Note: data after 2022 is projected based on recent change

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Year
Population
Growth
Growth Rate
202939,6778272.13%
202838,8508282.18%
202738,0228272.22%
202637,1958282.28%
202536,3678272.33%
202435,5408282.39%
202334,7128272.44%
202233,8858152.46%
202133,0708402.61%
202032,230-985-2.97%
201933,2155671.74%
201832,6485121.59%
201732,1366302%
201631,5064881.57%
201531,0185961.96%
201430,4223511.17%
201330,0714111.39%
201229,6603401.16%
201129,3204111.42%
201028,90900%
200025,7801,2114.93%
199024,5696312.64%
198023,9381,2085.31%
197022,7302,50312.37%
196020,2272,64615.05%
195017,5812,52516.77%
194015,0563,25327.56%
193011,803-234-1.94%
192012,037-478-3.82%
191012,5151,74516.2%
190010,770-3,064-22.15%
189013,83410,210281.73%
18803,62451816.68%
18703,106-36,571-92.17%
showing: 34 rows

Helena Population by Year