Plains town, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Plains town is a small community located in Montana. The total population is 1,077. It ranks as the 90th most populous out of 470 cities and towns in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Plains town is 43.5 years. This is 8% higher than the state median of 40.2 years. Only 13.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.4% 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 Plains town is $24,661. This is 65% lower than the state median of $69,922. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 69% lower. The poverty rate stands at 19.1%. This is 59% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 3.6%. This is 3% lower than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $209,200. Housing costs are 38% lower than the state median of $338,100. The home-value-to-income ratio of 8.5x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 50.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 27% lower than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Plains town has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 91.0% of all residents. Black or African American residents account for 1.5%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (1.5% vs 0.5%). The Hispanic or Latino population (0.2%) is well below the state average of 4.4%.

Education

20.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 42% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 89.5%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Plains town, Montana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 470 Census-designated places in Montana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.