Turtle Lake, Montana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Turtle Lake, Montana had a total population of 55, the 380th largest community in Montana. The poverty rate is 10.9%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Turtle Lake Quick Facts
How Turtle Lake 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 | 61 | 55 | -9.8% |
How Turtle Lake 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+)
Turtle Lake Rankings in Montana
Explore Montana Rankings
Other Cities in Lake County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polson | 5,428 | $53,418 | 17.5% | $356,300 |
| Ronan | 2,001 | $42,298 | 21.6% | $225,500 |
| Pablo | 1,632 | $36,400 | 34.5% | $256,700 |
| St. Ignatius | 977 | $50,000 | 21.8% | $250,000 |
| Woods Bay | 835 | $64,091 | 10.5% | $512,200 |
| Arlee | 812 | $57,500 | 13.3% | $261,400 |
| Lindisfarne | 533 | N/A | 14.3% | $653,800 |
| Finley Point | 479 | $65,972 | 18.8% | $555,100 |
| Kerr | 463 | N/A | 27.9% | $558,200 |
| Charlo | 306 | $40,469 | 17.3% | $210,800 |
Cities Similar to Turtle Lake
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helmville | 55 | $152,969 | $262,500 | 21.6% | 3.6% |
| Mountain View Colony | 55 | N/A | N/A | 21.6% | 51.3% |
| St. Xavier | 55 | N/A | $202,900 | 20.0% | 38.2% |
| Raynesford | 54 | $75,000 | $400,000 | 17.9% | 0.0% |
| Martinsdale Colony | 57 | N/A | N/A | 0.0% | 45.6% |
A note before these figures: with a population of 55, Turtle Lake'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
Turtle Lake is a small community located in Montana, within Lake County. The total population is 55. It ranks as the 380th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Turtle Lake is 46.2 years. This is 14% higher than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The poverty rate stands at 10.9%. This is 5% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Turtle Lake, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. 65.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 5% lower than the state average of 69.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Turtle Lake is a highly diverse community where no single racial or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the population. The Hispanic or Latino population is significantly higher than the state average (10.9% vs 4.6%).
Education
39.5% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 12% higher than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. No surveyed resident aged 25 or older reported leaving school before earning a high school diploma, though a rate of exactly 100% reflects the limits of a small sample.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Turtle Lake, 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 Turtle Lake, Montana?
Turtle Lake, Montana has a population of 55 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Turtle Lake, MT?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median household income estimate for Turtle Lake — the community is too small for the ACS sample. The national median is $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Turtle Lake, MT?
The poverty rate in Turtle Lake is 10.9%. This means approximately 6 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Turtle Lake, Montana?
Turtle Lake's population is 0.0% White, 0.0% Black, 10.9% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Turtle Lake, MT?
The Census Bureau does not publish a reliable median home value estimate for Turtle Lake — there are too few owner-occupied homes in the ACS sample. The national median is $332,700.
How educated is Turtle Lake, Montana?
39.5% of adults (25+) in Turtle Lake hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 0.0% hold a graduate or professional degree.