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

59

3rd best value in Montana

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

Overall livability

57

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 3rd for value and 4th overall. For context, the typical Helena home is about 47% below the statewide median of $523,000 and local household income is about 8% below the statewide median of $64,700.

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

3.5%

2nd in MT of 7

School rating

4/10

3rd in MT of 7

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More Montana cities: Billings, Bozeman, Butte Silver Bow, Great Falls, Kalispell, Missoula

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. City rankings are within Montana only. Updated 2026.