Saco, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 140, Saco'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

Saco is a small community located in Montana, within Phillips County. The total population is 140. It ranks as the 291st most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Saco is 51.4 years. This is 27% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 12.9% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Saco is $48,500. This is 33% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 40% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 27.1%. This is 136% 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 1.3%. This is 65% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $75,000. Housing costs are 80% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.5x, Saco is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 81.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 18% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Saco has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 1.4%. The Hispanic or Latino population (1.4%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.

Education

25.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 29% 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 95.8%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Saco, 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.