Best Life Index › States › Montana › Cities › Helena

Montana city profile

What Is It Like to Live in Helena?

What it costs to live in Helena, and how it compares with other Montana cities, in plain numbers.

Value score

45

5th best value in Montana

How much you get for what you pay, versus other Montana cities.

Overall livability

44

4th overall in Montana

Cost, safety, schools, jobs and quality of life combined.

Helena is home to about 32,060 people. A typical home runs $278,300 and a household earns around $59,700, a price-to-income ratio of 4.7. Among Montana's cities, it ranks 5th for value and 4th overall.

Helena at a glance

Median home price

$278,300

4th in MT of 7

Median rent

$880/mo

Median household income

$59,700

Home price to income

4.7x

Unemployment

3.2%

4th in MT of 7

School rating

7/10

4th in MT of 7

Air quality (AQI)

46

2nd in MT of 7

Walk score

22/100

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‹ See all top Montana cities ranked  ยท  Montana state profile ›

Sources: Home prices and rent from Zillow; income, unemployment and commute from the U.S. Census; school ratings from state education data; crime from the FBI; air quality from the EPA. City rankings are within Montana only. Updated 2026.