Ryegate, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 273, Ryegate'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

Ryegate is a small community located in Montana, within Golden Valley County. The total population is 273. It ranks as the 215th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Ryegate is 62.3 years. This is 54% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 11.4% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 12.1% 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 Ryegate is $46,786. This is 35% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 42% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 26.0%. This is 126% 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 survey records no unemployed residents in Ryegate, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $147,500. Housing costs are 61% lower than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.2x. 80.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 16% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Ryegate has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.4% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.0%.

Education

11.7% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 67% 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 89.2%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Ryegate, 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.