Ekalaka, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 276, Ekalaka's ACS estimates come from a small number of survey responses and carry wide margins of error. Individual percentages below — particularly rates that round to 0% or 100% — are approximations, not precise measurements. See data.census.gov for the published margins of error.

Population Overview

Ekalaka is a small community located in Montana, within Carter County. The total population is 276. It ranks as the 213th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ekalaka is 67.8 years. This is 68% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 4.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 29.3% of residents are 75 or older, suggesting a significant retirement-age population with implications for healthcare services and senior housing.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Ekalaka is $30,000. This is 59% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 63% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.2%. This is 136% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. With more than one in five residents living below the poverty line, economic hardship is a significant challenge for the community. The unemployment rate is 1.2%. This is 67% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $123,400. Housing costs are 67% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 4.1x. 66.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 4% lower than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ekalaka has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 90.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.5%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.5%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.

Education

12.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% 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 94.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ekalaka, 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.