What are the schools like in Helena, MT?

Helena is served primarily by Helena Elem. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and several high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.9:1.

What is the median household income in Helena?

The median household income in Helena, MT is $64,798 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

What is the weather like in Helena, MT?

Helena has an average high temperature of 32.4°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 14.4 inches and annual snowfall averages 37.2 inches.

Helena, MT Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Helena, MT affordable or expensive?

Helena's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Helena is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $331,700 and the median rent is $969 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Helena, MT?

Helena has a violent crime rate of 513.7 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2582.4 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Helena, MT a Good Place to Live?

Helena is a small city of 32,529 in Montana, with a median household income of $64,798 and a 3.2% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Helena stands out for an affordable cost of living, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Helena is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Helena city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 95.8

Helena's overall cost of living index is 95.8, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Helena costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Helena, MT	National Avg
Median Home Value	$331,700	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$969	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	55.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$64,798	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Near National Average

Helena's violent crime rate is 513.7 per 100,000 residents — 35% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

513.7 /100k

Property Crime

2582.4 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Helena is served primarily by Helena Elem. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Helena, MT	National Avg
School District	Helena Elem	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	N/A	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	50.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	96.2%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Helena sees average highs of 32.4°F in January and 86.1°F in July, with 14.4 inches of annual precipitation and 37.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Helena, MT
Average High — January	32.4°F
Average High — July	86.1°F
Annual Precipitation	14.4"
Annual Snowfall	37.2"

Demographics

Metric	Helena, MT	National Avg
Population	32,529	—
Median Age	39.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.2%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	13.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	91.8%	59.3%
Black or African American	0.9%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	18.7%	22.2%
65 and over	20.8%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

South Hills, MT 3 mi Unionville, MT 5 mi East Helena, MT 5 mi Helena Valley West Central, MT 5 mi Helena West Side, MT 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Helena

Helena, MT is covered by 3 ZIP codes:

59601 59625 59623

Helena vs Other Cities

Helena, MT vs South Hills, MT Helena, MT vs Unionville, MT Helena, MT vs East Helena, MT Helena, MT vs Helena Valley West Central, MT Helena, MT vs Helena West Side, MT

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Helena, MT affordable or expensive?

Helena's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Helena roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $331,700 and median rent is $969/month.

What is the crime rate in Helena, MT?

Helena's violent crime rate is 513.7 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2582.4 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Helena?

Public schools in Helena are operated by Helena Elem. The district has 13 elementary, 3 middle, and several high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.9:1. 50.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Helena, MT a good place to live?

Helena, MT has a population of 32,529, a median household income of $64,798, and an unemployment rate of 3.2%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Helena?

Helena averages 32.4°F in January and 86.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 14.4 inches with about 37.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Helena?

Helena, MT is covered by 3 ZIP codes: 59601, 59625, 59623.

What is the population of Helena?

The population of Helena, Montana is 32,529 with a median age of 39.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Helena?

Key numbers for living in Helena: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $331,700, median household income $64,798, crime index 130 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Helena side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.