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City · 33,639 residents · Lewis and Clark County, Montana

Helena , Montana

In Helena, a typical home is worth $387,300 and typical rent is $1,092 a month. Compared with all of Lewis and Clark County, typical household income is 9% lower and the share of households that own their home is 17 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $387,300

    About the same as the county

    3% above Montana

    • Helena
    • Lewis and Clark
    • Montana

  • Typical rent

    $1,092a month

    About the same as the county

    About the same as Montana

    • Helena
    • Lewis and Clark
    • Montana

  • Typical household income

    $71,036a year

    9% below the county

    2% below Montana

    • Helena
    • Lewis and Clark
    • Montana

  • Households that own their home

    53%

    17 points below the county

    17 points below Montana

    • Helena
    • Lewis and Clark
    • Montana

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$477,974
2.9% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,630 a month
2.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Helena is in Lewis and Clark County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lewis and Clark County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Helena apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Butte-Silver Bow, the typical home value is $257,800: 33% less than in Helena ($387,300).

  2. 53% of households in Helena own their home, against 70% in Lewis and Clark County.

  3. Nearby, in Butte-Silver Bow, the typical rent is $856: 22% less than in Helena ($1,092).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Helena

What homes there are in Helena, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

In Helena, 5 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Lewis and Clark County, 7.

Year built

Homes in Helena are older: the typical year built is 1974; in Lewis and Clark County, 1982.

Homes in Helena are smaller: 47% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Lewis and Clark County, 61%.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes

About 81% of owner-occupied homes in Helena are worth less than the FHA loan limit for Lewis and Clark County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

By rent, most homes in Helena cost less than HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent ($1,653): about 82%.

With a mortgage

$1,844 a month

Lewis and Clark County: $1,883 a month

Without a mortgage

$673 a month

Lewis and Clark County: $626 a month

Owners with a mortgage

55%

Lewis and Clark County: 61%

Owning costs about the same in Helena as in Lewis and Clark County: with a mortgage, $1,844 a month; without one, $673.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Helena rose 59%; in Lewis and Clark County, it rose 62%.

Rents in Helena rose at about the same pace as in Lewis and Clark County: 33% since 2015–2019, against 32%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 16%, while home values changed +59% and rent +33%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureHelenaLewis and Clark CountyMontanaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate5.3%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.9%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%1.8%3.4%
People per household 2.042.302.372.53
Drive alone 64%68%71%69%
Carpool 9%11%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate1%3%
Walk or bike 9%5%5%3%
Work from home 16%15%13%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%1%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.04 on average, against 2.30 in Lewis and Clark County.

More people walk or bike to work in Helena: 9%, against 5% in Lewis and Clark County.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Helena?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Helena, worth $387,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 54% of the typical household income in Helena, which is $71,036 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $137,391 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Lewis and Clark County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Helena. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $13,556 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$3,206

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$380,285
Total interest
$547,140
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $6,541 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,658 a month

  • Tight

    $1,658 to $2,131 a month

  • Hard

    more than $2,131 a month

    Your payment · 54%

Compared with the typical household income in Helena ($71,036 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,206
Principal & interest$2,576
Property tax$297
Home insurance$161
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$171

You need at least $13,556 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Helena and Lewis and Clark County

Helena is in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Helena's own numbers

Typical home value
$387,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,092
Typical yearly household income
$71,036
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
0.92%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Lewis and Clark County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,653
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+69%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
3%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Lewis and Clark County.

Everything about Lewis and Clark County

Buying

Buying a home in Helena

A typical home in Helena is worth $387,300: about the same as the county and 3% above Montana. With the typical household income in Helena ($71,036 a year), a typical home costs 5.5 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Helena 5.5 years
  • Lewis and Clark 5.0 years
  • Montana 5.2 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lewis and Clark County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lewis and Clark County rose 111% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Lewis and Clark County.

Period County Montana U.S.
Last year (2025) +5.2% +2.3% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +69% +62% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +111% +105% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Helena next to Lewis and Clark County, Montana and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Helena $387,300
  • Lewis and Clark $393,500
  • Montana $375,800
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Helena $1,092
  • Lewis and Clark $1,102
  • Montana $1,081
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Helena $71,036
  • Lewis and Clark $78,237
  • Montana $72,509
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Helena next to Lewis and Clark County and Montana
Measure Helena Lewis and Clark County Montana U.S.
Typical home value $387,300 $393,500 $375,800 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,092 $1,102 $1,081 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $71,036 $78,237 $72,509 $80,734
Households that own their home 53% 70% 69% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,552 $3,113 $2,693 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.92% 0.79% 0.72% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 40% 40% 45% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lewis and Clark County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Helena

For a typical $387,300 home in Helena, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Helena's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,206a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $13,556
    Cash to close
    $25,175
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $171

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,135a month

    Down payment
    $19,365
    Cash to close
    $30,984
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $184

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,557a month

    Down payment
    $77,460
    Cash to close
    $89,079
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,915a month

    Down payment
    $58,095
    Cash to close
    $69,714
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Helena and for Lewis and Clark County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Helena

0.92%of the home’s value each year

$3,552 a year for the typical owner in Helena.

  • Helena 0.92%
  • Lewis and Clark 0.79%
  • Montana 0.72%

What Montana publishes Homestead reduced tax rate for your principal residence (Montana Department of Revenue)

Exemptions and deadlines in Montana

Flood risk in Lewis and Clark County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Lewis and Clark County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
3%
897
Of those, with NFIP insurance
14%
County Montana U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 3% 2.6% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 14% 16% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Helena

Typical rent in Helena is $1,092 a month: about the same as the county. In Helena, 40% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lewis and Clark County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,653 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $31.79 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lewis and Clark County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $1,151 $22.13 $46,040
1 bedroom $1,320 $25.38 $52,800
2 bedrooms $1,653 $31.79 $66,120
3 bedrooms $2,289 $44.02 $91,560
4 bedrooms $2,392 $46.00 $95,680

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Helena

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Helena has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,650 in all of them.

None is above the fair market rent for Lewis and Clark County ($1,653).

  • 59601 $1,650$2,280
  • 59623 $1,650$2,280
  • 59625 $1,650$2,280

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Helena when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Helena

HUD lists 19 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Helena. These are the largest.

  • Samuel V Stewart Homes 100 S Warren St, Helena 59601 366 low-income homes · Run by Helena Housing Authority · Average payment: $537 a month · Average wait: 16 months (406) 442-7970
  • Guardian Apartments 520 Logan St, Helena 59601 118 low-income homes · Studio: 69 · 1 bd: 49 · In service since 2015 · For older adults (406) 585-4844
  • Broadwater Village 1427 Broadwater Cir, Helena 59601 92 homes, 67 low-income · For families (406) 272-1798
  • Penkay Eagles Manor 715 N Fee St, Helena 59601 66 homes, 62 low-income · Studio: 41 · 1 bd: 25 · In service since 2005
  • Eagle Manor II 720 N Washington St, Helena 59601 44 homes, 40 low-income · Studio: 5 · 1 bd: 39 · In service since 2009

See all 19 buildings in Lewis and Clark County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Helena

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lewis and Clark County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Helena

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Helena or Lewis and Clark County. The ones below are statewide in Montana: they work in Helena the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Montana

  • Bond Advantage Down Payment Assistance

    Statewide in Montana

    Montana Board of Housing loan for up to 5% of the price (maximum $15,000) for the down payment, over 15 years with low payments and the same rate as the bond program's first mortgage; there is also a Plus version, 0% and deferred, for lower incomes. Offered by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).

    RepayableDeferred

    See the program Official page

  • Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC)

    Statewide in Montana

    Montana Board of Housing certificate that lets you take 20% of the interest you pay each year on your mortgage off your federal taxes, up to $2,000 a year, while you live in the home; for first-time buyers, with a loan that is not from another Board program. Offered by Montana Board of Housing (Montana Department of Commerce).

    Tax credit

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Helena

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Helena, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Montana Legal Services Association

    616 Helena Ave., Helena · 1 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Arabic, American Sign Language (ASL), Cambodian, Cantonese, and 19 more languages.

    • Homelessness services
    • Rental counseling
    (800) 666-6899

  • Rocky Mountain Development Council

    200 S Cruse Ave, Helena · 1 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 2 more
    (406) 447-1680

  • Headwaters RC&D Area, Inc.

    65 E Broadway St, Butte · 47 miles away

    • Workshops for new owners
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 2 more
    (406) 533-6784

Every agency in Lewis and Clark County All counseling agencies in Montana

Help in Spanish near Helena

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Helena

HUD’s record names them for Helena or Lewis and Clark County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Helena Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (406) 442-7970

One other authority has an office in Lewis and Clark County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lewis and Clark County

These cities are also in Lewis and Clark County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Lewis and Clark County Housing in Montana

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Helena, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Lewis and Clark County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Helena.

All guides
A smiling girl holds up a small mushroom she found on a forest outing.

Questions

Housing questions about Helena

Short answers with the numbers for Helena and all of Lewis and Clark County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Helena?

The typical home value in Helena is $387,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lewis and Clark County it is $393,500.

How much does it cost to rent in Helena?

Typical rent in Helena is $1,092 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lewis and Clark County is $1,653.

What is the FHA loan limit in Helena?

Helena uses the FHA limit for all of Lewis and Clark County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Helena?

The typical homeowner in Helena pays $3,552 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.92% of the home’s value; in Lewis and Clark County, the rate is 0.79%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Helena?

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lewis and Clark County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).