Montana State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics

Total population: 1,116,875 Household income: $72,509 Rent: $1,081

Overview

Total population

1,116,875

Rent

$1,081

Year built

1981

Household income

$72,509

Per capita income

$41,711

Poverty rate

11.5%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Household size

2.4 persons

Rent over 30% of income

40.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Montana

Total population

1,116,875

Adults over 25

781,264

Total households

458,859

Household size

2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$72,509

Per capita income

$41,711

Poverty rate

11.5%

Unemployment rate

3.0%

Rent over 30% of income

40.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Housing

Rent

$1,081

Year built

1981

Households that rent

30.8%

Households that own

69.2%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.6

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Race

White

85%

Black

0.5%

Asian

0.8%

Two or more races

6.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

4.6%

Not Hispanic or Latino

95.4%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Commute

Commute rate

87.5%

Commute time to work

19 mins

Work from home

12.5%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Education

Less than high school

26.4%

High school graduate or GED

27.5%

Some college or associate degree

10.9%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

35.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Comparison of Montana with: Idaho South Dakota North Dakota United States

Montana

Total population1,116,875

Rent$1,081

Year built1981

Household income$72,509

Per capita income$41,711

Poverty rate11.5%

Unemployment rate3.0%

Idaho

Total population1,934,262

Rent$1,238

Year built1991

Household income$77,800

Per capita income$38,952

Poverty rate10.6%

Unemployment rate3.7%

South Dakota

Total population907,428

Rent$946

Year built1980

Household income$75,081

Per capita income$40,550

Poverty rate11.9%

Unemployment rate1.8%

North Dakota

Total population784,841

Rent$954

Year built1982

Household income$76,657

Per capita income$43,389

Poverty rate10.8%

Unemployment rate2.4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	StateMontana	StateIdaho	StateSouth Dakota	StateNorth Dakota	CountyUnited States
Total population	1,116,875	1,934,262	907,428	784,841	334,922,499
Rent	$1,081	$1,238	$946	$954	$1,413
Year built	1981	1991	1980	1982	1980
Household income	$72,509	$77,800	$75,081	$76,657	$80,734
Per capita income	$41,711	$38,952	$40,550	$43,389	$44,673
Poverty rate	11.5%	10.6%	11.9%	10.8%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	3.0%	3.7%	1.8%	2.4%	4%

Montana is compared to its neighboring states — Idaho, South Dakota and North Dakota — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for Montana

Montana has about 1,116,875 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Montana is $1,081, which is lower than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Montana is $72,509, lower than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 11.5%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 69.2% of homes. About 30.8% of households in Montana are renters. Around 40.4% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Many homes were built around 1981, reflecting a generally older housing stock.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 35.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Montana is 3%, lower than the U.S. rate of 4%.

Montana — Rent vs Household Income

Montana — Poverty vs Unemployment

💰 Rent in Montana (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,081 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Montana

Annual Household Income: $72,509

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Montana

Estimated Rate: 11.5%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Montana

In Montana, households that rent: 141,459 (30.8%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	141,459	30.8%
Owner-Occupied	317,400	69.2%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Montana

In Montana, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 57,163 (40.4%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	57,163	40.4%
Other renter households	84,296	59.6%
Total renter households	141,459	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Montana

Less than High School: 206,608 people (26.4%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 214,884 people (27.5%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 85,069 people (10.9%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 274,703 people (35.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 781,264

📊 Unemployment Rate in Montana

Estimated Rate: 3.0%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.