Terry, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 537, Terry'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

Terry is a small community located in Montana, within Prairie County. The total population is 537. It ranks as the 149th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Terry is 66.8 years. This is 65% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. Only 4.3% of residents are under 18, indicating fewer families with children. 27.2% 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 Terry is $48,125. This is 34% 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 28.1%. This is 144% 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 2.5%. This is 31% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $137,200. Housing costs are 63% lower than the state median of $375,800. With a home-value-to-income ratio of just 2.9x, Terry is one of the most affordable housing markets in the area. 95.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 37% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Terry has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 89.6% of all residents. Asian residents account for 6.3%. The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.3% vs 0.8%).

Education

32.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% 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 94.5%. Notably, 19.1% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Terry, 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.