Helena, MT

Census Place

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Population

31,212

2.86% 1-year growth

US Senator

Jon Tester

Democratic Party

US Senator

Steve Daines

Republican Party

Median Age

40.3

Poverty Rate

15.7%

Median Household Income

$56,221

4.32% 1-year growth

Median Property Value

$232,000

5.41% 1-year growth

Number of Employees

16,121

1.52% 1-year growth

About

In 2018, Helena, MT had a population of 31.2k people with a median age of 40.3 and a median household income of $56,221. Between 2017 and 2018 the population of Helena, MT grew from 30,345 to 31,212, a 2.86% increase and its median household income grew from $53,892 to $56,221, a 4.32% increase.

The 5 largest ethnic groups in Helena, MT are White (Non-Hispanic) (90.2%), White (Hispanic) (2.88%), Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (2.85%), American Indian & Alaska Native (Non-Hispanic) (1.56%), and Asian (Non-Hispanic) (0.75%). NaNk% of the people in Helena, MT speak a non-English language, and 99.5% are U.S. citizens.

The largest universities in Helena, MT are Carroll College (309 degrees awarded in 2017) and Helena College University of Montana (259 degrees).

The median property value in Helena, MT is $232,000, and the homeownership rate is 54%. Most people in Helena, MT commute by Drove Alone, and the average commute time is 11.7 minutes. The average car ownership in Helena, MT is 2 cars per household.

United States Montana Lewis and Clark County, MT Helena, MT Butte-Silver Bow & Helena City PUMA, MT

COVID-19

Daily New Cases by Date

Showing data at the state level for Montana. Hospitalization data for some states may be delayed or not reported.

This chart shows the number of COVID-19 daily new cases by date in Montana, as a 7-day rolling average, compared with the four states with the most similar number of confirmed cases.

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Impact on Employment

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

This chart shows weekly unemployment insurance claims in Montana (not-seasonally adjusted) compared with the four states with the most similar impact.

The most recent data point uses Advance State Claims data, which can be revised in subsequent weeks.

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Community Mobility

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

This chart presents movement trends over time in the state of Montana across different categories of places such as retail and recreation, groceries and pharmacies, parks, transit stations, workplaces, and residential.

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Civics

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Lewis and Clark County, MT went to Donald J. Trump with 49% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (42%), followed by Other (9.01%). The most partisan county was Garfield County, MT with 90.9% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

Jon Tester and Steve Daines are the senators currently representing the state of Montana. In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

N/A is currently represented by N/A in the U.S. house, and members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms.

Presidential Popular Vote Over Time

Voting results are not available for Helena, MT. Showing the available data for Lewis and Clark County, MT.

2016 Election Results

Donald J. Trump (49%)
Republican Party
Hillary Rodham Clinton (42%)
Democratic Party
Other (9.01%)
Other Party

In the 2016 presidential election, the popular vote in Montana went to Donald J. Trump with 49% of the vote. The runner-up was Hillary Rodham Clinton (42%), followed by Other (9.01%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Montana for each registered party from 1976 to 2016.

Presidential Popular Vote by County

Presidential voting results are only available at the county level. Showing data for the counties inside of Montana.

Donald J. Trump

Popular Vote for Lewis and Clark County, MT

49% for the Republican Party

Most Partisan Counties in Montana

Garfield County, MT
90.9% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Petroleum County, MT
86.3% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)
Carter County, MT
86.3% for Donald J. Trump (Republican Party)

In the 2016 presidential election, the most partisan county in Montana was Garfield County, MT with 90.9% of the vote going to Donald J. Trump running for the Republican Party.

The following map shows the counties in Montana colored by their party leaning.

US Senators from Montana

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

Jon Tester

Senator from Montana

Assumed office on January 3, 2007

Steve Daines

Senator from Montana

Assumed office on January 3, 2015

Jon Tester and Steve Daines are the senators currently representing Montana.

In the United States, senators are elected to 6-year terms with the terms for individual senators staggered.

The following chart shows elected senators in Montana over time, colored by their political party.

US Representatives from N/A

Members of the House of Representives are elected to 2-year terms, and the following chart shows the how the N/A for N/A have changed over time starting in 2008.

Diversity

Helena, MT is home to a population of 31.2k people, from which 99.5% are citizens. As of 2018, 1.39% of Helena, MT residents were born outside of the country (434 people).

In 2018, there were 31.3 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (28.1k people) in Helena, MT than any other race or ethnicity. There were 900 White (Hispanic) and 890 Two+ (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Helena, MT

White (Non-Hispanic)
28.1k ± 291
White (Hispanic)
900 ± 246
Two+ (Non-Hispanic)
890 ± 224

Hispanic Population

1.25k people

4% of the people in Helena, MT are hispanic (1.25k people).

The following chart shows the 7 races represented in Helena, MT as a share of the total population.

Heritage

Foreign-Born Population

1.39%

2018 Foreign-Born Population

434 people

1.31%

2017 Foreign-Born Population

399 people

As of 2018, 1.39% of Helena, MT residents (434 people) were born outside of the United States, which is lower than the national average of 13.7%. In 2017, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Helena, MT was 1.31%, meaning that the rate has been increasing.

The following chart shows the percentage of foreign-born residents in Helena, MT compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Age by Nativity

Median Native-Born Age

± 1.7

Median Foreign-Born Age

± 19.1

In 2018, the median age of all people in Helena, MT was 40.3. Native-born citizens, with a median age of 40, were generally younger than than foreign-born citizens, with a median age of 51. But people in Helena, MT are getting getting younger. In 2017, the average age of all Helena, MT residents was 41.

Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Montana.

Most Common Origin

Canada
4,272 ± 1,601 people
Mexico
2,817 ± 1,301 people
Philippines
2,040 ± 1,108 people

In 2017, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Montana was Canada, the natal country of 4,272 Montana residents, followed by Mexico with 2,817 and Philippines with 2,040.

Citizenship

99.5%

2018 Citizenship

99.5%

2017 Citizenship

As of 2018, 99.5% of Helena, MT residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2017, the percentage of US citizens in Helena, MT was 99.5%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

The following chart shows US citizenship percentages in Helena, MT compared to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period

Vietnam
966 ± 181
Gulf War (2001-)
597 ± 183
Gulf War (1990s)
250 ± 93

Helena, MT has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 1.62 times greater than any other conflict.

Economy

Median household income in Helena, MT is $56,221. In 2018, the place with the highest Median Household Income in Helena, MT was Census Tract 10 with a value of $66,047, followed by Census Tract 9 and Census Tract 8, with respective values of $48,590 and $43,947.

Males in Montana have an average income that is 1.42 times higher than the average income of females, which is $39,968. The income inequality in Montana (measured using the Gini index) is 0.465, which is lower than than the national average.

The economy of Helena, MT employs 16.1k people. The largest industries in Helena, MT are Public Administration (2,881 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,326 people), and Educational Services (1,600 people), and the highest paying industries are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($71,250), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,536), and Finance & Insurance ($59,615).

Wages

Median Household Income

$56,221

2018 value

± $2,503

4.32%

1 Year Growth

± 6.26%

Households in Helena, MT have a median annual income of $56,221, which is less than the median annual income of $61,937 across the entire United States. This is in comparison to a median income of $53,892 in 2017, which represents a 4.32% annual growth.

The following chart shows how the median household income in Helena, MT compares to that of its neighboring and parent geographies.

Wage by Gender in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Montana.

$56,921

Average Male Salary in Montana

± $3,007

$39,968

Average Female Salary in Montana

± $2,184

In 2017, full-time male employees in Montana made 1.42 times more than female employees.

This chart shows the gender-based wage disparity in the 5 most common occupations in Montana by number of full-time employees.

Wage by Race and Ethnicity in Common Jobs

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Montana.

Highest Average Salaries by Race & Ethnicity in Montana

White
$42,515 ± $1,780
Other
$39,395 ± $16,377
Asian
$33,231 ± $11,940

In 2017 the highest paid race/ethnicity of Montana workers was White. These workers were paid 1.08 times more than Other workers, who made the second highest salary of any race/ethnicity in Montana.

This chart shows the race- and ethnicity-based wage disparities in the 5 most common occupations in Montana by number of full-time employees.

Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Helena, MT is from Montana.

0.465

2017 Wage GINI in Montana

0.462

2016 Wage GINI in Montana

In 2017, the income inequality in Montana was 0.465 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.554% growth from 2016 to 2017, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat less even. The GINI for Montana was lower than than the national average of 0.479. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly in Montana in comparison to the national average.

This chart shows the number of workers in Montana across various wage buckets compared to the national average.

Income by Location

Use the dropdown to filter by race/ethnicity.

Highest Median Household Income (Total)

Census Tract 10
Census Tract 9
Census Tract 8

In 2018, the place with the highest Median Household Income (Total) in Helena, MT was Census Tract 10 with a value of $66,047, followed by Census Tract 9 and Census Tract 8, with respective values of $48,590 and $43,947.

The following map shows all of the places in Helena, MT colored by their Median Household Income (Total).

Poverty by Age and Gender

Females 18 - 24

Largest Demographic Living in Poverty

15.7% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Helena, MT (4.68k out of 29.8k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 13.1%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Males < 5 and then Females 25 - 34.

The Census Bureau uses a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who classifies as impoverished. If a family's total income is less than the family's threshold than that family and every individual in it is considered to be living in poverty.

Poverty by Race and Ethnicity

Largest Race or Ethnicity Living in Poverty

White
4,075 ± 542
Hispanic
598 ± 204
Two Or More
217 ± 145

The most common racial or ethnic group living below the poverty line in Helena, MT is White, followed by Hispanic and Two Or More.

Occupations

Employment by Occupations

16.1k

2018 Value

± 939

1.52%

1 Year growth

± 7.98%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Helena, MT grew at a rate of 1.52%, from 15.9k employees to 16.1k employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Helena, MT, are Management Occupations (1,839 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,536 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,509 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Helena, MT.

Most Common

The most common jobs held by residents of Helena, MT, by number of employees, are Management Occupations (1,839 people), Office & Administrative Support Occupations (1,536 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (1,509 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Helena, MT has an unusually high number of residents working as Legal Occupations (2.29 times higher than expected), Computer & Mathematical Occupations (1.91 times), and Architecture & Engineering Occupations (1.65 times).

Highest Paid

The highest paid jobs held by residents of Helena, MT, by median earnings, are Legal Occupations ($75,375), Law Enforcement Workers Including Supervisors ($73,844), and Protective Service Occupations ($72,571).

Industries

Employment by Industries

16.1k

2018 Value

± 939

1.52%

1 Year growth

± 7.98%

From 2017 to 2018, employment in Helena, MT grew at a rate of 1.52%, from 15.9k employees to 16.1k employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Helena, MT, are Public Administration (2,881 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,326 people), and Educational Services (1,600 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Helena, MT, though some of these residents may live in Helena, MT and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

Most Common

The most common industries in Helena, MT, by number of employees, are Public Administration (2,881 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (2,326 people), and Educational Services (1,600 people).

Most Specialized

Compared to other places, Helena, MT has an unusually high number of Public Administration (3.85 times higher than expected), Finance & Insurance (1.29 times), and Accommodation & Food Services (1.21 times) industries.

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries in Helena, MT, by median earnings, are Mining, Quarrying, & Oil & Gas Extraction ($71,250), Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services ($60,536), and Finance & Insurance ($59,615).

Domestic Trade

Domestic Production & Consumption

Domestic production and consumption consists of products and services shipped from Montana to other states, or from other states to Montana.

Top Domestic Production in Dollars

Gasoline
$6.47B
Coal-n.e.c.
$6.17B
Fuel oils
$5.98B

In 2015, the top outbound Montana product (by dollars) was Gasoline with $6.47B, followed by Coal-n.e.c. ($6.17B) and Fuel oils ($5.98B).

The following chart shows the share of these products in relation to all outbound Montana products.

Domestic Trade Growth

Showing data for Montana.

$44.7B

2015 Value in Montana

$53.9B

Projected 2045 Value in Montana

20.7% growth

In 2015, total outbound Montana trade was $44.7B. This is expected to increase 20.7% to $53.9B by 2045.

The following chart shows how the domestic outbound Montana trade is projected to change in comparison to its neighboring states.

Interstate Trade

Interstate trade consists of products and services shipped from Montana to other states, or from other states to Montana.

Most Common Trade Partners

North Dakota
$4.59B
Wyoming
$2.98B
Idaho
$2.88B

In 2015, the top outbound Montana domestic partner for goods and services (by dollars) was North Dakota with $4.59B, followed by Wyoming with $2.98B and Idaho and $2.88B.

The following map shows the amount of trade that Montana shares with each state (excluding itself).

Education

In 2017, universities in Helena, MT awarded 568 degrees. The student population of Helena, MT is skewed towards women, with 1,174 male students and 1,610 female students.

Most students graduating from Universities in Helena, MT are White (474 and 83.7%), followed by Unknown (41 and 7.24%), Hispanic or Latino (23 and 4.06%), and American Indian or Alaska Native (12 and 2.12%).

The largest universities in Helena, MT by number of degrees awarded are Carroll College (309 and 54.4%) and Helena College University of Montana (259 and 45.6%).

The most popular majors in Helena, MT are Registered Nursing (63 and 11.1%), General Studies (55 and 9.68%), and General Health Services (36 and 6.34%).

The median tuition costs in Helena, MT are $33,500 for private four year colleges, and $N/A and $N/A respectively, for public four year colleges for in-state students and out-of-state students.

Concentrations

Most Common

Registered Nursing
41 degree-majorss awarded
General Health Services
36 degree-majorss awarded
General Biological Sciences
33 degree-majorss awarded

In 2015, the most common concentation for Bachelors Degree recipients in Helena, MT was Registered Nursing with 41 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of students graduating with a Bachelors Degree from schools in Helena, MT according to their major.

Universities

Largest Universities by degrees awarded

Carroll College
309 degrees awarded
Helena College University of Montana
259 degrees awarded

$N/A

Median In-State Public

$33,500

Median Private

In 2017, the Helena, MT institution with the largest number of graduating students was Carroll College with 309 degrees awarded.

Student Gender for Common Institutions

247

Degrees Awarded to Men

321

Degrees Awarded to Women

In 2017, 247 men were awarded degrees from institutions in Helena, MT, which is 0.769 times less than the 321 female students who received degrees in the same year.

This chart displays the gender disparity between the institutions in Helena, MT by degrees awarded.

Student Race and Ethnicity

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
474 degrees awarded
Unknown
41 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
23 degrees awarded

In 2017 the majority of degrees awarded at institutions in Helena, MT were to White students. These 474 degrees mean that there were 11.6 times more White students then the next closest race/ethnicity group, Unknown, with 41 degrees awarded.

Housing & Living

The median property value in Helena, MT was $232,000 in 2018, which is 1.01 times larger than the national average of $229,700. Between 2017 and 2018 the median property value increased from $220,100 to $232,000, a 5.41% increase. The homeownership rate in Helena, MT is 54%, which is lower than the national average of 63.9%. People in Helena, MT have an average commute time of 11.7 minutes, and they commute by Drove Alone. Car ownership in Helena, MT is approximately the same as the national average, with an average of 2 cars per household.

Housing

Property Value

$232,000

2018 Median

± $6,040

$220,100

2017 Median

± $4,981

In 2018, the median property value in Helena, MT grew to to $232,000 from the previous year's value of $220,100.

The following charts display, first, the property values in Helena, MT compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies and, second, owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property value buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Helena, MT the largest share of households have a property value in the N/A range.

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.

$56,221

Median Household Income

± $2,503

13.8k

Number of Households

± 793

In 2018, the median household income of the 13.8k households in Helena, MT grew to $56,221 from the previous year's value of $53,892.

The following chart displays the households in Helena, MT distributed between a series of income buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households have an income in the $75k - $100k range.

Property Taxes

$2k - $3k

Average Range

This chart shows the households in Helena, MT distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Helena, MT the largest share of households pay taxes in the $2k - $3k range.

Rent vs Own

54%

2018 Homeownership

54.4%

2017 Homeownership

In 2018, 54% of the housing units in Helena, MT were occupied by their owner. This percentage declined from the previous year's rate of 54.4%.

This percentage of owner-occupation is lower than the national average of 63.9%. This chart shows the ownership percentage in Helena, MT compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

Commute Time

11.7 minutes

Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Helena, MT have a shorter commute time (11.7 minutes) than the normal US worker (25.3 minutes). Additionally, 0.733% of the workforce in Helena, MT have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

The chart below shows how the median household income in Helena, MT compares to that of it's neighboring and parent geographies.

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Method of Travel

Drove Alone
73.1%
Carpooled
9.21%
Walked
8.18%

In 2018, the most common method of travel for workers in Helena, MT was Drove Alone (73.1%), followed by those who Carpooled (9.21%) and those who Walked (8.18%).

The following chart shows the number of households using each mode of transportation over time, using a logarithmic scale on the y-axis to help better show variations in the smaller means of commuting.

Transportation

Car Ownership

2 cars

Average Number

The following chart displays the households in Helena, MT distributed between a series of car ownership buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. The largest share of households in Helena, MT have 2 cars, followed by 1 car.

Health

94.6% of the population of Helena, MT has health coverage, with 50.3% on employee plans, 14% on Medicaid, 13.6% on Medicare, 14.3% on non-group plans, and 2.4% on military or VA plans.

Per capita personal health care spending in Montana was $8,221 in 2014. This is a 2.84% increase from the previous year ($7,994).

Primary care physicians in Lewis and Clark County, MT see 1126 patients per year on average, which represents a 0.793% decrease from the previous year (1135 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1180 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 240 patients per year.

Comparing across all counties in the state, Glacier County has the highest prevalence of diabetes (14.8%). Additionally, Big Horn County has the highest prevalence of adult obesity (37.9%)

Patient to Clinician Ratios

Data is only available at the country level. Showing data for Lewis and Clark County, MT.

1,126 to 1

Patient to Primary Care Physician Ratio in Lewis and Clark County, MT

Primary care physicians in Lewis and Clark County, MT see an average of 1,126 patients per year. This represents a 0.793% decrease from the previous year (1,135 patients).

The following chart shows how the number of patients seen by primary care physicians has been changing over time in Lewis and Clark County, MT in comparison to its neighboring geographies.

Behavioral Health Conditions

Data only available at the state level.

State with the Highest Prevalence

West Virginia
8.26% of the population affected
Arkansas
8.13% of the population affected
New Hampshire
7.98% of the population affected

In 2016, West Virginia had the highest prevalence of adults with major depressive episode, with 8.26% of the population affected. The second highest is Arkansas (8.13%), followed by New Hampshire (7.98%).

The following map shows the percent of individuals with major depressive episode by state over multiple years.

Social Needs

Data only available at the state level.

Most prevalent states

California
35,798 individuals
New York
5,087 individuals
Florida
4,915 individuals

In 2017, California had the highest estimated number of chronically homeless individuals in the nation, at 35,798. New York has the second highest (5,087), followed by Florida (4,915).

The following map shows the estimated number of chronically homeless individuals by state over multiple years.

Access and Quality

Data only available at state level.

Most prevalent states

Mississippi
19.2% of adults
Texas
17.9% of adults
Louisiana
17.6% of adults

In 2016, Mississippi had the highest prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost, at 19.2%. It is followed by Texas (17.9%) and Louisiana (17.6%).

The following map shows the prevalence of adults who haven't seen a doctor in the past 12 months due to cost by state over multiple years.

Health Care Spending

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.

$8,221

Total Per Capita Spending on Personal Health Care in Montana

$3,882

Per Enrollee Private Health Insurance Spending on Personal Health Care

$9,378

Per Enrollee Medicaid Spending on Personal Health Care

$8,238

Per Enrollee Medicare Spending on Personal Health Care

Between 2013 and 2014, all personal health care spending per capita in Montana (including private, Medicare, and Medicaid) grew 2.84%, from $7,994 to $8,221.

The following chart shows how this spending changed over time in comparison to Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance spending, per enrollee.

Health Care Coverage

5.38%

Uninsured

50.3%

Employer Coverage

14%

Medicaid

13.6%

Medicare

14.3%

Non-Group

2.4%

Military or VA

Between 2017 and 2018, the percent of uninsured citizens in Helena, MT declined by 22.1% from 6.91% to 5.38%.

The following chart shows how the percent of uninsured individuals in Helena, MT changed over time compared with the percent of individuals enrolled in various types of health insurance.