Melstone, Montana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Melstone, Montana had a total population of 80, the 347th largest town in Montana, with a median household income of $65,625, which is 9% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 17.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Only 9.4% of adults have a bachelor's degree, well below the national average of 35.7%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x.
Melstone Quick Facts
How Melstone Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 75 | 80 | +6.7% |
How Melstone Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 29 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Melstone Rankings in Montana
Explore Montana Rankings
Other Cities in Musselshell County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roundup | 2,003 | $57,847 | 16.6% | $166,200 |
| Klein | 340 | $50,737 | 11.5% | $276,900 |
| Camp Three | 139 | $58,000 | 13.8% | N/A |
| Musselshell | 36 | N/A | 33.3% | N/A |
| Kilby Butte Colony | 20 | N/A | 100.0% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Melstone
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fox | 80 | N/A | $765,600 | 45.3% | 0.0% |
| Niarada | 79 | N/A | $232,500 | 31.9% | 0.0% |
| Lake Mary Ronan | 80 | $69,583 | $692,300 | 32.1% | 13.8% |
| Pony | 78 | $66,667 | $333,300 | 25.4% | 2.6% |
| Paradise | 76 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 0.0% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 80, Melstone'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
Melstone is a small community located in Montana, within Musselshell County. The total population is 80. It ranks as the 347th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Melstone is 47.5 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Melstone is $65,625. This is 9% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 19% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 17.5%. This is 52% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 6% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $156,300. Housing costs are 58% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.4x, Melstone is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 93.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 35% higher than the state average of 69.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Melstone has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 87.5% of all residents.
Education
9.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 73% 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 86.8%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Melstone, 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 Melstone, Montana?
Melstone, Montana has a population of 80 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Melstone, MT?
The median household income in Melstone is $65,625, which is 19% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Melstone, MT?
The poverty rate in Melstone is 17.5%. This means approximately 14 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Melstone, Montana?
Melstone's population is 87.5% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Melstone, MT?
The median home value in Melstone is $156,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.4x.
How educated is Melstone, Montana?
9.4% of adults (25+) in Melstone hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.8% hold a graduate or professional degree.