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Butte-Silver Bow, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

5th Largest5th most populous city in Montana

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Butte-Silver Bow, Montana had a total population of 35,052, the 5th largest community in Montana, with a median household income of $61,857, which is 15% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 14.8%.

Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes

Key Takeaways

Butte-Silver Bow Quick Facts

Population 35,052
Median Household Income $61,857
Median Home Value $257,800
Poverty Rate 14.8%
Unemployment Rate 4.0%
Median Age 40.6 years
Homeownership Rate 70.7%
Affordability Ratio 4.2x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.1%
High School Graduation Rate 94.0%
Diversity Index 20/100
Population 35,052 5th of 475
Median Income $61,857 average
Poverty Rate 14.8% 19% higher than national
Median Home Value $257,800 average

How Butte-Silver Bow Changed

Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.

Metric2019–20232020–2024Change
Population34,92935,052+0.4%
Median household income$57,633$61,857+7.3%
Median home value$225,100$257,800+14.5%

How Butte-Silver Bow Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 20.4%
$25K-$50K 20.7%
$50K-$100K 33.7%
$100K+ 25.2%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
6.3%
$10K-$15K
4.9%
$15K-$20K
3.8%
$20K-$25K
5.4%
$25K-$30K
4.4%
$30K-$35K
4.6%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
3.8%
$45K-$50K
4.3%
$50K-$60K
7.7%
$60K-$75K
12.9%
$75K-$100K
13.1%
$100K-$125K
10.3%
$125K-$150K
4.8%
$150K-$200K
5.5%
$200K+
4.6%

Employment

4.0% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
60.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 70.7%
Renter 29.3%
Affordability Index Moderate
4.2x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $856/mo 16.6% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

20out of 100
Very Low Diversity

A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.

State average: 29 | National average: 61

Education

Butte-Silver Bow Rankings in Montana

#5 Population of 475
#179 Median Income of 341
#159 Education of 473
#148 Home Value of 320

Other Cities in Silver Bow County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Walkerville 733 $48,750 18.2% $148,700

Cities Similar to Butte-Silver Bow

These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Helena33,639$71,036$387,30050.6%8.8%
Kalispell28,504$63,415$428,00034.8%10.0%
Great Falls60,329$63,373$257,00027.8%14.5%
Bozeman56,114$85,747$687,90065.1%13.7%
Missoula76,514$70,392$473,10053.0%11.8%

Population Overview

Butte-Silver Bow is a mid-sized community located in Montana, within Silver Bow County. The total population is 35,052. It ranks as the 5th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Butte-Silver Bow is 40.6 years. This is about the same as the state median of 40.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Butte-Silver Bow is $61,857. This is 15% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 23% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 14.8%. This is 28% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 4.0%. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $257,800. Housing costs are 31% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x. 70.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 2% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Butte-Silver Bow has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.0% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.7%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 0.4%. The Asian population (0.4%) is well below the state average of 0.8%.

Education

28.1% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 20% lower than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 94.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Butte-Silver Bow, Montana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in Montana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Butte-Silver Bow, Montana?

Butte-Silver Bow, Montana has a population of 35,052 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Butte-Silver Bow, MT?

The median household income in Butte-Silver Bow is $61,857, which is 23% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Butte-Silver Bow, MT?

The poverty rate in Butte-Silver Bow is 14.8%. This means approximately 5,031 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Butte-Silver Bow, Montana?

Butte-Silver Bow's population is 89.0% White, 0.1% Black, 4.7% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Butte-Silver Bow, MT?

The median home value in Butte-Silver Bow is $257,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.2x.

How educated is Butte-Silver Bow, Montana?

28.1% of adults (25+) in Butte-Silver Bow hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 9.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.