Plains, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

Name: Plains, Montana Demographics
Creator: U.S. Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

★

Lowest IncomeAmong the lowest median incomes in Montana

★

High PovertyPoverty rate of 31.2% is well above the state average

★

Expensive MarketHome value to income ratio of 9.7x indicates a costly housing market

During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Plains, Montana had a total population of 1,195, the 83rd largest town in Montana, with a median household income of $25,491, which is 65% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 31.2%.

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

Key Takeaways

Household income is 65% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (31.2%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 9.7x the median household income.
Unemployment rate of 19.1% is notably above the national average.

Plains Quick Facts

Population 1,195

Median Household Income $25,491

Median Home Value $248,300

Poverty Rate 31.2%

Unemployment Rate 19.1%

Median Age 43.3 years

Homeownership Rate 53.1%

Affordability Ratio 9.7x

Bachelor's Degree or Higher 13.4%

High School Graduation Rate 92.6%

Diversity Index 31/100

Population 1,195 83rd of 475

Median Income $25,491 bottom 10%

Poverty Rate 31.2% 151% higher than national

Median Home Value $248,300 average

How Plains 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	1,077	1,195	+11.0%
Median household income	$24,661	$25,491	+3.4%
Median home value	$209,200	$248,300	+18.7%

How Plains Compares

Median Household Income

Plains

$25,491

$72,509

National

$80,734

Median Home Value

Plains

$248,300

$375,800

National

$332,700

Economy & Housing

Household Income Distribution

Under $25K 49.1%

$25K-$50K 14.9%

$50K-$100K 20.9%

$100K+ 15.1%

Detailed income brackets

Under $10K

4.8%

$10K-$15K

15.8%

$15K-$20K

12.8%

$20K-$25K

15.7%

$25K-$30K

6.2%

$30K-$35K

3.8%

$35K-$40K

3.6%

$40K-$45K

0.0%

$45K-$50K

1.3%

$50K-$60K

1.7%

$60K-$75K

10.8%

$75K-$100K

8.4%

$100K-$125K

7.3%

$125K-$150K

1.4%

$150K-$200K

2.2%

$200K+

4.1%

Employment

19.1% Unemployment Rate State: 3.6%|National: 5.2%

59.8% Labor Force Participation

Housing Overview

Owner 53.1%

Renter 46.9%

Affordability Index Very Expensive

9.7x home value to income ratio

Median gross rent $843/mo 39.7% of median household income annually

People & Demographics

Age Distribution

Under 18

11.1%

18-34

29.8%

35-54

22.6%

55-74

26.7%

75+

9.9%

Race & Ethnicity

Diversity Index

Low Diversity

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+)

Plains Rankings in Montana

#83 Population of 475

#333 Median Income of 341

#322 Education of 473

#159 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 Sanders County

City	Population	Median Income	Poverty	Home Value
Thompson Falls	1,500	$46,313	6.5%	$266,400
Hot Springs	557	$21,300	29.2%	$150,900
Heron	328	$29,207	59.8%	$433,300
Dixon	281	$48,333	28.5%	$234,400
Trout Creek	252	$64,853	0.0%	N/A
Noxon	209	$60,167	0.0%	$197,500
Weeksville	147	$64,333	0.0%	$782,300
Old Agency	129	$45,750	52.7%	N/A
Lonepine	122	$31,667	19.7%	$375,000
Paradise	76	N/A	0.0%	N/A

Cities Similar to Plains

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

City	Population	Median Income	Home Value	Bachelor's+	Poverty
South Browning	1,538	N/A	$73,000	9.3%	42.2%
Whitehall	1,156	$44,844	$194,100	20.0%	20.6%
Fort Belknap Agency	1,227	$46,071	$72,700	8.9%	29.4%
Browning	943	$34,250	$151,800	14.9%	46.4%
Sun Prairie	1,171	$55,688	$164,100	27.6%	9.9%

Population Overview

Plains is a small community located in Montana, within Sanders County. The total population is 1,195. It ranks as the 83rd most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Plains is 43.3 years. This is 7% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 11.1% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Plains is $25,491. This is 65% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 68% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 31.2%. This is 171% 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 19.1%. This is 429% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $248,300. Housing costs are 34% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.7x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 53.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 23% lower than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

The largest racial or ethnic group in Plains is White (non-Hispanic), making up 82.7% of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 7.1%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (1.8% vs 0.4%). The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (7.1% vs 4.6%).

Education

13.4% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 62% 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 92.6%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Plains, 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.

Free data download: Get all Montana city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Plains, Montana?

Plains, Montana has a population of 1,195 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What is the median household income in Plains, MT?

The median household income in Plains is $25,491, which is 68% lower than the national median of $80,734.

What is the poverty rate in Plains, MT?

The poverty rate in Plains is 31.2%. This means approximately 367 residents live below the federal poverty line.

What is the racial makeup of Plains, Montana?

Plains's population is 82.7% White, 1.8% Black, 7.1% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.4% Asian.

What is the median home value in Plains, MT?

The median home value in Plains is $248,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 9.7x.

How educated is Plains, Montana?

13.4% of adults (25+) in Plains hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 3.3% hold a graduate or professional degree.