Poplar, Montana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Poplar, Montana had a total population of 635, the 136th largest city in Montana, with a median household income of $43,438, which is 40% lower than the state average. The poverty rate is 34.5%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- Household income is 40% below the state average, indicating significant economic challenges.
- More than 1 in 4 residents live below the poverty line (34.5%), well above the national average of 12.4%.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x.
- Unemployment rate of 13.9% is notably above the national average.
Poplar Quick Facts
How Poplar 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 | 655 | 635 | -3.1% |
| Median household income | $45,104 | $43,438 | -3.7% |
| Median home value | $91,700 | $95,000 | +3.6% |
How Poplar 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
Moderate diversity with one or two groups making up the majority.
State average: 29 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Poplar Rankings in Montana
Explore Montana Rankings
Other Cities in Roosevelt County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf Point | 2,602 | $52,868 | 23.3% | $118,600 |
| Culbertson | 567 | $101,136 | 10.3% | $217,200 |
| Brockton | 439 | N/A | 49.0% | $62,500 |
| Bainville | 334 | $92,917 | 0.6% | N/A |
| Froid | 324 | $72,000 | 3.8% | $102,800 |
Cities Similar to Poplar
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batavia | 690 | $46,995 | $369,400 | 21.0% | 20.1% |
| Muddy | 724 | N/A | $163,800 | 6.2% | 52.3% |
| Busby | 569 | $46,071 | $133,600 | 17.2% | 28.4% |
| Hungry Horse | 679 | $53,056 | N/A | 15.2% | 11.5% |
| Lindisfarne | 533 | N/A | $653,800 | 48.1% | 14.3% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 635, Poplar'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
Poplar is a small community located in Montana, within Roosevelt County. The total population is 635. It ranks as the 136th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Poplar is 38.1 years. This is 6% lower than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Poplar is $43,438. This is 40% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 46% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 34.5%. This is 200% 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 13.9%. This is 283% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $95,000. Housing costs are 75% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.2x, Poplar is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 76.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% higher than the state average of 69.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Poplar is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.5%. The White (non-Hispanic) population (18.1%) is well below the state average of 83.6%.
Education
12.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 64% 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 94.3%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Poplar, 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 Poplar, Montana?
Poplar, Montana has a population of 635 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Poplar, MT?
The median household income in Poplar is $43,438, which is 46% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Poplar, MT?
The poverty rate in Poplar is 34.5%. This means approximately 219 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Poplar, Montana?
Poplar's population is 18.1% White, 0.0% Black, 2.5% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Poplar, MT?
The median home value in Poplar is $95,000. The home-value-to-income ratio is 2.2x.
How educated is Poplar, Montana?
12.6% of adults (25+) in Poplar hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 8.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.