Shepherd, Montana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Shepherd, Montana had a total population of 353, the 179th largest community in Montana, with a median household income of $80,125, which is 11% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 4.8%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- An exceptionally low poverty rate of 4.8% — among the lowest in Montana.
- Housing is very affordable with a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x.
Shepherd Quick Facts
How Shepherd 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 | 613 | 353 | -42.4% |
| Median home value | $179,700 | $114,400 | -36.3% |
How Shepherd 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
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+)
Shepherd Rankings in Montana
Explore Montana Rankings
Other Cities in Yellowstone County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings | 119,434 | $73,712 | 9.8% | $343,400 |
| Laurel | 7,215 | $68,474 | 10.0% | $235,100 |
| Lockwood | 7,181 | $75,700 | 10.7% | $235,400 |
| Huntley | 455 | $94,821 | 0.0% | $233,600 |
| Worden | 416 | N/A | 3.1% | N/A |
| Ballantine | 262 | N/A | 0.0% | $284,000 |
| Custer | 199 | $82,500 | 20.1% | $137,500 |
| Broadview | 175 | $78,438 | 8.0% | $165,600 |
| Acton | 87 | $36,042 | 40.2% | N/A |
| Nibbe | 62 | N/A | 24.2% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Shepherd
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rockvale | 350 | N/A | N/A | 14.3% | 6.9% |
| Martin City | 342 | N/A | $573,400 | 34.5% | 0.0% |
| Twin Creeks | 361 | $86,029 | $356,600 | 30.0% | 0.0% |
| Fortine | 351 | $66,402 | $325,900 | 26.9% | 18.8% |
| Beaver Creek | 340 | $91,563 | $280,900 | 24.8% | 2.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 353, Shepherd'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
Shepherd is a small community located in Montana, within Yellowstone County. The total population is 353. It ranks as the 179th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Shepherd is 47.5 years. This is 18% higher than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Shepherd is $80,125. This is 11% higher than the state median of $72,509. It is also about the same as the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 4.8%. This is 58% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. This exceptionally low poverty rate indicates strong economic prosperity across the community. The unemployment rate is 6.0%. This is 65% higher than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $114,400. Housing costs are 70% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 1.4x, Shepherd is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 100.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 45% higher than the state average of 69.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Shepherd has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 98.0% of all residents.
Education
30.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 13% 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 97.4%.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Shepherd, 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 Shepherd, Montana?
Shepherd, Montana has a population of 353 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Shepherd, MT?
The median household income in Shepherd is $80,125, which is about the same as the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Shepherd, MT?
The poverty rate in Shepherd is 4.8%. This means approximately 17 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Shepherd, Montana?
Shepherd's population is 98.0% White, 0.0% Black, 0.0% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Shepherd, MT?
The median home value in Shepherd is $114,400. The home-value-to-income ratio is 1.4x.
How educated is Shepherd, Montana?
30.6% of adults (25+) in Shepherd hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.