Plains, MT

Census Place

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2024 Population
1,195
US Senator
Steve Daines
Republican Party
US Senator
Tim Sheehy
Republican Party
2024 Median Age
43.3
0.46% 1-year decrease
2024 Poverty Rate
31.2%
63.1% 1-year increase
2024 Median Household Income
$25,491
3.37% 1-year growth
2024 Median Property Value
$248,300
18.7% 1-year growth
2024 Employed Population
515
1.98% 1-year growth

About

None of the households in Plains, MT reported speaking a non-English language at home as their primary shared language. This does not consider the potential multi-lingual nature of households, but only the primary self-reported language spoken by all members of the household.

100% of the residents in Plains, MT are U.S. citizens.

In 2024, the median property value in Plains, MT was $248,300, and the homeownership rate was 53.1%.

Most people in Plains, MT drove alone to work, and the average commute time was 15 minutes. The average car ownership in Plains, MT was 1 car per household.

United StatesMontanaSanders County, MTLake, Mineral, Missoula & Sanders Counties--Missoula City PUMA, MT

Population & Diversity

Plains, MT is home to a population of 1.2k people, from which 100% are citizens. As of 2024, 1.92% of Plains, MT residents were born outside of the country (23 people).

In 2024, there were 11.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (988 people) in Plains, MT than any other race or ethnicity. There were 85 White (Hispanic) and 58 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

Population & Diversity

Citizenship

100%
2024 Citizenship
99.6%
2023 Citizenship

As of 2024, 100% of Plains, MT residents were US citizens, which is higher than the national average of 93.2%. In 2023, the percentage of US citizens in Plains, MT was 99.6%, meaning that the rate of citizenship has been increasing.

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

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Diversity

Race and Ethnicity

The 3 largest ethnic groups in Plains, MT
  1. White (Non-Hispanic)
    988 ± 232
  2. White (Hispanic)
    85 ± 75
  3. Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic)
    58 ± 44
7.11%
Hispanic Population
85 people

In 2024, there were 11.6 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (988 people) in Plains, MT than any other race or ethnicity. There were 85 White (Hispanic) and 58 Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups.

7.11% of the people in Plains, MT are hispanic (85 people).

The following chart shows the 8 races represented in Plains, MT as a share of the total population.

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Global Diversity

The PUMS dataset is not available at the Place level, so we are showing data for Montana.
Most Common Origin
  1. Canada
    3,832 ± 1,517 people
  2. Mexico
    2,638 ± 1,259 people
  3. Germany
    1,932 ± 1,078 people

In 2023, the most common birthplace for the foreign-born residents of Montana was Canada, the natal country of 3,832 Montana residents, followed by Mexico with 2,638 and Germany with 1,932.

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Foreign-Born Population

1.92%
2024 Foreign-Born Population
23 people
2.14%
2023 Foreign-Born Population
23 people

As of 2024, 1.92% of Plains, MT residents (23 people) were born outside of the United States, which is approximately the same as the national average of 14%. In 2023, the percentage of foreign-born citizens in Plains, MT was 2.14%, meaning that the rate has been decreasing.

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

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Military

Veterans

Most Common Service Period
  1. Vietnam
    69 ± 48
  2. Korea
    10 ± 20

Plains, MT has a large population of military personnel who served in Vietnam, 6.9 times greater than any other conflict.

The chart shows the distribution of veterans by conflict in Plains, MT.

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Economy

The economy of Plains, MT employs 515 people. In 2024, the largest industries in Plains, MT were Retail Trade (115 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (110 people), and Construction (100 people), and the highest paying industries were Accommodation & Food Services ($60,795), Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation, & Accommodations & Food Services ($60,795), and Public Administration ($41,645).

Employment

Occupations

515
2024 Value
± 162
1.98%
1 Year growth
± 45.3%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Plains, MT grew at a rate of 1.98%, from 505 employees to 515 employees.

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Plains, MT, are Production Occupations (105 people), Sales & Related Occupations (82 people), and Office & Administrative Support Occupations (55 people). This chart illustrates the share breakdown of the primary jobs held by residents of Plains, MT.

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Unemployment Insurance Claims

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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Industries

Employment by Industries

515
2024 Value
± 162
1.98%
1 Year growth
± 45.3%

From 2023 to 2024, employment in Plains, MT grew at a rate of 1.98%, from 505 employees to 515 employees.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Plains, MT, are Retail Trade (115 people), Health Care & Social Assistance (110 people), and Construction (100 people). This chart shows the share breakdown of the primary industries for residents of Plains, MT, though some of these residents may live in Plains, MT and work somewhere else. Census data is tagged to a residential address, not a work address.

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Median Earnings by Industry

$44,107
Median earning men ± $17,035
$26,532
Median earning women ± $11,135

The industries with the best median earnings for men in 2024 are Arts, Entertainment, & Recreation, & Accommodations & Food Services ($60,795), Public Administration ($42,171), and Construction ($37,656).

The industries with the best median earnings for women in 2024 are Educational Services, & Health Care & Social Assistance ($38,889).

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Employment by Industry Sector

Data is only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.
Y-Axis
2.24%
Year-over-year growth
Employment change between February 2022 and February 2023

As of February 2023, there are 508k people employed in Montana. This represents a 2.24% increase in employment when compared to February 2022.

Right after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during April 2020, a general dip can be seen across industry sectors, resulting in an overall decline in employment by 11.8%.

The following chart shows monthly employment numbers for each industry sector in Montana.

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Civics

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Montana went to Donald J. Trump with 58.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.96%).

Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy 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.

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

Presidential Elections

Voting results are not available for Plains, MT. Showing the available data for Montana.
2024 Election Results
  1. Donald J. Trump (58.4%)
    Republican Party
  2. Kamala Harris (38.5%)
    Democratic Party
  3. Robert Kennedy (1.96%)
    Independent Party

In the 2024 presidential election, the popular vote in Montana went to Donald J. Trump with 58.4% of the vote. The runner-up was Kamala Harris (38.5%), followed by Robert Kennedy (1.96%).

The following chart shows the popular vote results in Montana for each registered party from 1976 to 2024.

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Senator Elections

US Senators from Montana

Senatorial voting results are only available at the state level. Showing data for Montana.
Steve Daines
Senator from Montana2
Assumed office on January 3, 2015
Tim Sheehy
Senator from Montana1
Assumed office on January 3, 2025

Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy 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, excluding special elections, colored by their political party.

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Housing & Living

The median property value in Plains, MT was $248,300 in 2024, which is 0.746 times smaller than the national average of $332,700. Between 2023 and 2024 the median property value increased from $209,200 to $248,300, a 18.7% increase. The homeownership rate in Plains, MT is 53.1%, which is lower than the national average of 65.2%.

People in Plains, MT have an average commute time of 15 minutes, and they drove alone to work. Car ownership in Plains, MT is lower than the national average, with an average of 1 car per household.

Housing

Property

$248,300
Median Property Value 2024
±$118,802
$335
Median Property Taxes
±$107

The following chart display owner-occupied housing units distributed between a series of property tax buckets compared to the national averages for each bucket. In Plains, MT the largest share of households pay taxes in the < $800 range.

The chart underneath the paragraph shows the property taxes in Plains, MT compared to it's parent and neighbor geographies.

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Rent vs Own

53.1%
Homeownership
2024
69.3%
Homeowners with Mortgage
2024

In 2024, 53.1% of the housing units in Plains, MT were occupied by their owner. This percentage grew from the previous year's rate of 50.4%.

This chart shows the percentage of owner in Plains, MT compared it's parent and neighboring geographies.

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Equity

Household Income

Please note that the buckets used in this visualization were not evenly distributed by ACS when publishing the data.
$25,491
Median Household Income
± $8,554
631
Number of Households
± 175

In 2024, the median household income of the 631 households in Plains, MT grew to $25,491 from the previous year's value of $24,661.

The following chart displays the households in Plains, 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 $20k - $25k range.

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Wage Distribution

The closest comparable wage GINI for Plains, MT is from Montana.
0.46
2023 Wage GINI in Montana
0.463
2022 Wage GINI in Montana

In 2023, the income inequality in Montana was 0.46 according to the GINI calculation of the wage distribution. Income inequality had a 0.635% decline from 2022 to 2023, which means that wage distribution grew somewhat more even. The GINI for Montana was lower than than the national average of 0.476. 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.

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Transportation

Commuter Transportation

Most Common Commute in 2024
  1. Drove Alone (51.8%)
  2. Carpooled (15.9%)
  3. Worked At Home (15.9%)

In 2024, 51.8% of workers in Plains, MT drove alone to work, followed by those who carpooled to work (15.9%) and those who worked at home (15.9%).

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.

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Commute Time

15 minutes
Average Travel Time

Using averages, employees in Plains, MT have a shorter commute time (15 minutes) than the normal US worker (26.4 minutes). Additionally, 3.77% of the workforce in Plains, MT have "super commutes" in excess of 90 minutes.

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

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Car Ownership

1 car
Average Number

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

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Poverty

Poverty & Diversity

31.2% of the population for whom poverty status is determined in Plains, MT (367 out of 1.18k people) live below the poverty line, a number that is higher than the national average of 12.5%. The largest demographic living in poverty are Females 18 - 24, followed by Females 25 - 34 and then Females 35 - 44.

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

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.

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Health

91.6% of the population of Plains, MT has health coverage, with 23.8% on employee plans, 42.6% on Medicaid, 16.9% on Medicare, 6.72% on non-group plans, and 1.53% on military or VA plans.

Primary care physicians in Montana see 1,200 patients per year on average, which represents a 0% change from the previous year (1,200 patients). Compare this to dentists who see 1350 patients per year, and mental health providers who see 250 patients per year.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.9% were men and 52.1% were women.

Coverage

Health Care Diversity

In 2024, insured persons according to age ranges were distributed in 14% under 18 years, 27.6% between 18 and 34 years, 37% between 35 and 64 years, and 21.4% over 64 years.

By gender, of the total number of insured persons, 47.9% were men and 52.1% were women.

The following chart shows the number of people with health coverage by gender.

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Uninsured People

8.43%
Uninsured
23.8%
Employer Coverage
42.6%
Medicaid
16.9%
Medicare
6.72%
Non-Group
1.53%
Military or VA

Between 2023 and 2024, the percent of uninsured citizens in Plains, MT declined by 21.3% from 10.7% to 8.43%.

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

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