Population
97,153
2025
+7.7% since 2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. Resident population, July 1 estimate.
Helena, MT metro area: population growth, jobs and income
The Helena, MT metro area gained 541 residents between 2024 and 2025 (+0.6%).
The Helena, MT metro area had an estimated 97,153 residents in 2025, up 7.7% (6,971 more people) since 2020.
Data as of 2025 · updated
Map, parcel and listing layers cover North and South Carolina only for now.
Headline numbers
Net domestic migration
+635
2025
6.5 per 1,000 residents
+7,361 in total, 2021–2025
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025), 2025. People moving in from other U.S. counties minus people moving out.
Unemployment rate
3.1%
2025
+0.0 pts since 2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, 2025. Annual average unemployment rate.
New homes permitted
216
2025
−53.8% since 2024
2.2 per 1,000 residents
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2025. Housing units authorized by building permits in the year.
Median household income
$78,528
2020–24
+18.0% since 2016–20
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020–24. American Community Survey 5-year estimate.
Private-sector employment
30,338
2023
+10.3% since 2018
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023. Paid employees of private employers in mid-March (County Business Patterns).
Net migration (IRS tax returns)
+701
2022–23
Source: IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022–23. People on tax returns moving in minus moving out, U.S. and abroad; the sum of the member counties (moves between them cancel out).
Population, migration, employment, permits, unemployment and income are the figures each agency publishes for the area itself (OMB Bulletin 23-01 delineation; ACS 2016-20 and CBP 2018 use the delineation of their year). IRS migration is the sum of the member counties.
What the numbers say
Net domestic migration added 635 people in 2025: more people moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out.
Private employers had 30,338 paid employees in mid-March 2023, +10.3% since 2018 (County Business Patterns).
Unemployment averaged 3.1% in 2025.
Builders were authorized to start 216 new homes in 2025, or 2.2 per 1,000 residents.
Median household income was $78,528 in the 2020–24 American Community Survey, +18.0% since 2016–20.
Population growth over five years ranks 1st of 5 Montana metro areas and 46th of 362 U.S. metro areas.
IRS tax-return data for 2022-2023 show a net gain of 701 people (the sum of its counties).
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How it ranks
| Measure | Among U.S. metro areas |
|---|---|
| Population growth | 46th of 362 |
| Net domestic migration per 1,000 residents | 56th of 362 |
| Private-sector job growth | 70th of 352 |
| Median household income | 120th of 362 |
| Lowest unemployment rate | 41st of 362 |
| New homes permitted per 1,000 residents | 255th of 362 |
1st = highest (lowest for unemployment), against areas with a figure for the same period.
Fastest-growing metro areas in Montana · Fastest-growing metro areas in the U.S.
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The County Growth and Demographics Report for Lewis and Clark County, MT, the principal county of the Helena, MT area, as a PDF: population and migration, housing and rents, permits, private employers and jobs, unemployment, ranks in the state and the country, and neighbouring counties, with a source next to every number. Pay once, no subscription.
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Counties in this metro area
Lewis and Clark County, MT drove the change: of the 6,971 residents the Helena, MT metro area gained from 2020 to 2025 (the sum of its counties), it added 4,150 (60%).
| County | Role | Residents2025 | Share of residents2025 | Change2020–2025 | Share of the change2020–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lewis and Clark County, MT | Central | 75,331 | 77.5% | +4,150 (+5.8%) | 60% |
| Jefferson County, MT | Outlying | 13,329 | 13.7% | +1,188 (+9.8%) | 17% |
| Broadwater County, MT | Outlying | 8,493 | 8.7% | +1,633 (+23.8%) | 23% |
Census Bureau population estimates (July 1). Shares are of the member counties' total; a share of the change shows only when every county moved the same way. – means no figure for the common period.
Nearby and similar metro areas
Similar in size
Questions
Is the Helena, MT metro area growing?
Yes. Its population grew 7.7% between 2020 and 2025, about 6,971 more people (Census Bureau population estimates).
Which county in the Helena, MT metro area is growing fastest?
Broadwater County, MT. Its population grew 23.8% between 2020 and 2025, the fastest of the 3 member counties (Census Bureau population estimates).
How many people moved to the Helena, MT metro area?
On net, about 635 people in 2025: that many more moved in from other U.S. counties than moved out (Census Bureau net domestic migration estimate).
What is the unemployment rate in the Helena, MT metro area?
It averaged 3.1% in 2025 (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, annual average).
What is the population of the Helena, MT metro area?
About 97,153 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2025.
Lewis and Clark County data alerts
Email me when Lewis and Clark County gets new Census numbers: population, building permits, jobs and income. About 4 emails a year, one click to stop.
Sources and method
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program (Vintage 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns
- IRS Statistics of Income, U.S. Population Migration Data
Each number shows its own period. Changes compare the latest period with five years earlier (or the earliest period available). Beacon CRE last refreshed these figures on 2026-11-05. Figures come from public federal statistics and are informational only, not investment advice. Check the source before relying on a number. Methodology: how we compute every number. More on every layer: data sources and licences.
Jobs outside North and South Carolina use County Business Patterns (paid private-sector employees in mid-March); wages and government jobs are not included.