Helena, MT Demographics

A map of Helena's Population by Race

Helena, Montana has an estimated population of 33,639, an increase from the 32,091 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 86.4% White, 5.3% Multiracial, 4.7% Hispanic, 2.3% Native American/Other, 0.8% Black, and 0.5% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Helena, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Helena is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is less diverse than Montana overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Helena, that probability was 24.4% in 2020 and 24.8% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Helena is ranked the 6th most populous place in Montana, out of 497 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Helena was ranked the 6th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Helena's White Population

29,071 residents of Helena, or 86.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Helena is slightly higher than in Montana overall, where 83.6% of the population is White. Helena ranks 321st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Helena's White population has grown by an estimated 4.6%. White residents' share of Helena's population has remained roughly unchanged at 86.4%.

Helena is more White than neighboring Helena West Side (85.4% White). Helena is less White than neighboring South Hills (90.8% White), Helena Valley West Central (87.9% White), Unionville (98.5% White), and East Helena (88.4% White).

Helena's Black Population

270 residents of Helena, or 0.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Helena is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.4% of the population is Black. Helena ranks 63rd statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Helena's Black population has grown by an estimated 45.9%. Black residents' share of Helena's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.8%.

Helena is more Black than neighboring South Hills (0% Black), Helena Valley West Central (0.4% Black), Unionville (0% Black), and East Helena (0% Black). Helena is less Black than neighboring Helena West Side (2% Black).

Helena's Asian Population

183 residents of Helena, or 0.5% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Helena is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 0.8% of the population is Asian. Helena ranks 44th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Helena's Asian population has declined by an estimated 48.7%. Asian residents' share of Helena's population has decreased from 1.1% to 0.5%.

Helena is more Asian than neighboring South Hills (0% Asian), Helena Valley West Central (0.2% Asian), and Helena West Side (0% Asian). Helena is less Asian than neighboring Unionville (1.5% Asian), and East Helena (1.1% Asian).

Helena's Hispanic Population

1,571 residents of Helena, or 4.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Helena is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.6% of the population is Hispanic. Helena ranks 139th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Helena's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 23.0%. Hispanic residents' share of Helena's population has increased from 4.0% to 4.7%.

Helena is more Hispanic than neighboring South Hills (2.1% Hispanic), Unionville (0% Hispanic), and Helena West Side (0.1% Hispanic). Helena is less Hispanic than neighboring Helena Valley West Central (5.1% Hispanic), and East Helena (7.8% Hispanic).

Helena's Native American/Other Population

759 residents of Helena, or 2.3% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Helena is slightly lower than in Montana overall, where 5.9% of the population is Native American/Other. Helena ranks 190th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Helena's Native American/Other population has grown by an estimated 3.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Helena's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.3%.

Helena is more Native American/Other than neighboring South Hills (1.8% Native American/Other), Helena Valley West Central (0.5% Native American/Other), Unionville (0% Native American/Other), and East Helena (0.8% Native American/Other). Helena is less Native American/Other than neighboring Helena West Side (8.6% Native American/Other).

Helena's Multiracial Population

1,785 residents of Helena, or 5.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Helena is comparable to the share in Montana overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Helena ranks 169th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 497 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Helena's Multiracial population has grown by an estimated 2.5%. Multiracial residents' share of Helena's population has remained roughly unchanged at 5.3%.

Helena is more Multiracial than neighboring Unionville (0% Multiracial), Helena West Side (3.9% Multiracial), and East Helena (1.9% Multiracial). Helena is less Multiracial than neighboring Helena Valley West Central (5.8% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.