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Miles City, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Miles City, Montana had a total population of 8,407, the 15th largest city in Montana, with a median household income of $67,727, which is 7% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 11.4%.

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

Miles City Quick Facts

Population 8,407
Median Household Income $67,727
Median Home Value $200,200
Poverty Rate 11.4%
Unemployment Rate 3.9%
Median Age 42.6 years
Homeownership Rate 63.9%
Affordability Ratio 3.0x
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 25.4%
High School Graduation Rate 95.4%
Diversity Index 22/100
Population 8,407 15th of 475
Median Income $67,727 average
Poverty Rate 11.4% 8% lower than national
Median Home Value $200,200 below average

How Miles City 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
Population8,4128,407-0.1%
Median household income$60,732$67,727+11.5%
Median home value$182,700$200,200+9.6%

How Miles City Compares

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 17.8%
$25K-$50K 21.7%
$50K-$100K 31.1%
$100K+ 29.4%
Detailed income brackets
Under $10K
5.7%
$10K-$15K
3.5%
$15K-$20K
4.6%
$20K-$25K
3.9%
$25K-$30K
3.2%
$30K-$35K
4.2%
$35K-$40K
3.6%
$40K-$45K
4.4%
$45K-$50K
6.4%
$50K-$60K
6.1%
$60K-$75K
8.8%
$75K-$100K
16.2%
$100K-$125K
11.0%
$125K-$150K
6.4%
$150K-$200K
7.6%
$200K+
4.4%

Employment

3.9% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%
67.1% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 63.9%
Renter 36.1%
Affordability Index Affordable
3.0x home value to income ratio
Median gross rent $926/mo 16.4% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Diversity Index

22out 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

Miles City Rankings in Montana

#15 Population of 475
#142 Median Income of 341
#187 Education of 473
#210 Home Value of 320

Explore Montana Rankings

Cities by Population All cities ranked by size Richest Cities Ranked by median income Most Educated By bachelor's degree rate Most Affordable By housing affordability

Other Cities in Custer County

CityPopulationMedian IncomePovertyHome Value
Ismay 1 N/A 0.0% N/A

Cities Similar to Miles City

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

CityPopulationMedian IncomeHome ValueBachelor's+Poverty
Livingston8,780$65,861$392,40038.6%13.7%
Whitefish8,749$73,811$684,30056.8%9.4%
Helena Valley Southeast9,108$74,075$331,50025.4%8.3%
Laurel7,215$68,474$235,10020.8%10.0%
Helena Valley West Central8,056$90,082$367,20041.1%7.1%

Population Overview

Miles City is a small city located in Montana, within Custer County. The total population is 8,407. It ranks as the 15th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Miles City is 42.6 years. This is 5% higher than the state median of 40.4 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Miles City is $67,727. This is 7% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 16% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 11.4%. This is about the same as the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 3.9%. This is 9% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $200,200. Housing costs are 47% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 63.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 8% lower than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Miles City has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 88.3% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.2%. The Black or African American population (0.1%) is well below the state average of 0.4%.

Education

25.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 28% 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 95.4%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Miles City, 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 Miles City, Montana?

Miles City, Montana has a population of 8,407 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Miles City, MT?

The median household income in Miles City is $67,727, which is 16% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Miles City, MT?

The poverty rate in Miles City is 11.4%. This means approximately 913 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Miles City, Montana?

Miles City's population is 88.3% White, 0.1% Black, 4.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.6% Asian.

What is the median home value in Miles City, MT?

The median home value in Miles City is $200,200. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x.

How educated is Miles City, Montana?

25.4% of adults (25+) in Miles City hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 7.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.