Heron, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 328, Heron'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

Heron is a small community located in Montana, within Sanders County. The total population is 328. It ranks as the 191st most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Heron is 31.4 years. This is 22% lower than the state median of 40.4 years. With 34.8% of the population under 18, Heron has a notably young demographic profile, suggesting a family-oriented community.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Heron is $29,207. This is 60% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 64% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 59.8%. This is 419% 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 3.3%. This is 9% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $433,300. Housing costs are 15% higher than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 14.8x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 59.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 14% lower than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Heron has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 3.7%.

Education

38.9% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 11% higher 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 99.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Heron, 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.