Wise River, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

A note before these figures: with a population of 30, Wise River'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

Wise River is a small community located in Montana, within Beaverhead County. The total population is 30. It ranks as the 420th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Wise River is 67.2 years. This is 66% higher than the state median of 40.4 years. 33.3% 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 Wise River is $55,313. This is 24% lower than the state median of $72,509. It is also 31% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 20.0%. This is 74% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The survey records no unemployed residents in Wise River, which reflects the size of the sample rather than a labor market without joblessness. The median home value is $381,800. Housing costs are 2% higher than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 6.9x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 90.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 30% higher than the state average of 69.2%.

Race & Ethnicity

Every resident counted in Wise River was recorded as White (non-Hispanic). A figure of exactly 100.0% reflects a survey sample too small to capture the community's full composition rather than a precise measurement.

Education

10.0% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 72% 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 80.0%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Wise River, 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.