The Town FilesHelena Valley West Central, Montana
Community in Lewis and Clark County · population 8,670 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $367,200
- Household income
- $90,082
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 39.3
Helena Valley West Central is a community of 8,670 people in Lewis and Clark County, Montana. The median home is worth $367,200, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). It ranks more upscale than 89% of Montana towns, more of a college town than 85% of Montana towns, easier by car than 85% of Montana towns.
How Helena Valley West Central ranks
Percentile among Montana towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Montana towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Helena Valley West Central is worth $367,200, above the typical Montana town ($249,800). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $90,082, which is more affordable than 55% of Montana towns. Median rent is $1,327 a month. 85.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Helena Valley West Central | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $367,200 | $249,800 |
| Median rent | $1,327 | $893 |
| Median household income | $90,082 | $63,249 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 4.2× |
| Homeownership | 85.2% | 70.7% |
| Median year built | 1986 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in Helena Valley West Central
| People | Helena Valley West Central | Typical Montana town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39.3 | 40.6 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 19.6% |
| Under 18 | 25.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 41.1% | 25.0% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.1% | 10.9% |
| Veterans | 12.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.2% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 8.5% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 19.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 95.3% | 86.6% |
Weather in Helena Valley West Central
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 13.5°F. About 11.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 37.2 inches of snow (typical Montana town: 44.0 in). Expect about 27 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 170 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena Valley West Central since 1950, compared with 1 for the typical Montana town. The strongest, an F0, struck on June 27, 1997 about 5.7 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 27, 1997.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 6, 1997.
Severe weather in Lewis and Clark County since 1996
Lewis and Clark County has been included in 16 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for fire, flood, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 12, 2024 | Fire | FM-5507: Horse Gulch Fire |
| March 31, 2020 | Biological | DR-4508: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3476: Covid-19 |
| July 28, 2019 | Fire | FM-5286: North Hills Fire |
| October 31, 2018 | Flood | DR-4405: Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Lewis and Clark County
Lewis and Clark County had 39,957 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,248 a year. Unemployment was 2.6% in 2023; in Helena Valley West Central itself the ACS puts it at 3.8%.
Towns near Helena Valley West Central
- Helena Valley Northwest, MT4.8 mi · 4,705 people · home $404,200
- Helena, MT4.9 mi · 32,091 people · home $387,300
- Helena Valley Northeast, MT6.5 mi · 3,813 people · home $576,700
- Helena Valley Southeast, MT7.9 mi · 9,168 people · home $331,500
- Montana City, MT11.1 mi · 2,918 people · home $571,200
Helena Valley West Central questions
Is Helena Valley West Central, Montana a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Helena Valley West Central scores better for retirees than 40% of Montana towns and quieter than 15%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 39.3).
How much does a house cost in Helena Valley West Central?
The median owner-occupied home in Helena Valley West Central is valued at $367,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $90,082, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,327 a month.
What is the weather like in Helena Valley West Central?
July highs average 86.1°F and January lows 13.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 11.4 inches of precipitation a year and 37.2 inches of snow.
Does Helena Valley West Central get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Helena Valley West Central since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F0 on June 27, 1997. The typical Montana town has had 1.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)