RANK #306 / 1001 NAT · POP 73,464
1YR FORECAST: +0.8%
5YR OUTLOOK: +32%
Lewis and Clark County, Montana, is defined by its connection to the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition and its striking natural scenery, including segments of the Rocky Mountain Front and the Continental Divide. Helena, the state capital and county seat, serves as a central hub. The county offers extensive outdoor recreation, with opportunities for hiking, fishing, boating, and camping across its 407 acres of parkland and numerous trails. Major water features like the Missouri, Blackfoot, and Dearborn Rivers provide diverse recreational activities. Commuting within the county is primarily by car, with Interstate 15 and U.S. Highways 12 and 287 serving as key routes. Public transportation is available in Helena and East Helena.
Life in Lewis and Clark County blends a connection to history with access to natural amenities. The public schools in Lewis and Clark County are rated above average. The economy has seen job growth since 2020, with government, finance, and professional and technical services among the higher-paying industries. The area attracts families and young professionals, with a notable percentage of residents owning their homes. Lewis and Clark County's population has steadily increased, with a significant number of people moving into the county between 2020 and 2023.
Lewis and Clark County's data profile doesn't fit any single market profile cleanly — its housing, labor, and demographic signals pull in different directions (home prices +3.0% YoY, population +1.2%, wages +5.2%). About 414 U.S. counties show this kind of mixed-signal pattern.
See all 414 Idiosyncratic Markets counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Above national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 11.1x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. Climate and geography support a structural premium. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
Bars show percentile rank among all 1001 counties.
With a Boom Town Index score of 69/100, Lewis and Clark County sits in the upper half of all 1001 ranked counties. and median household income stands at $78,237 — indicators that suggest solid fundamentals even if it's not among the fastest-growing counties in MT.
Lewis and Clark County leans toward the expensive side. A median home value of $393,500 against an income-to-home-value ratio of 0.20 means housing eats a bigger share of local earnings than the national norm. Renters face $1,102/month on average.
Lewis and Clark County's population is growing — up +1.2% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of -0.7%). Home values shifted +3.0% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 2.7% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Lewis and Clark County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.