Montana State Capitol in Helena
County in Montana

Lewis and Clark County

Lewis and Clark County has the 3rd highest share of college graduates in Montana (43.0% of adults) and the 5th highest median household income ($78,237).

Lewis and Clark County is home to 75,129 people (2024 estimate) on 3,458 square miles of land. This page brings together official U.S. Census Bureau population estimates since 2000, the components of change—births, deaths and migration—American Community Survey indicators on income, housing, poverty and education, BEA economic accounts and BLS unemployment.

Key indicators

Population
75,129
July 1, 2024 estimate
2020 Census base
70,971
April 1, 2020
Change since 2020
+5.9%
2020–2024
Land area
3,458 mi²
8,957 km²
Population density
21.7 /mi²
2024 estimate ÷ land area
Births
669
Year to July 1, 2024
Deaths
665
Year to July 1, 2024
Natural change
+4
Births minus deaths, 2024
Net migration
+312
Domestic + international, 2024
Per capita personal income
$67,391
BEA, 2024
Gross domestic product
$5.7 billion
BEA, current dollars, 2024
Median household income
$78,237
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate
8.1%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher
43.0%
Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents
1.9%
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value
$393,500
ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Unemployment rate
2.8%
BLS annual average, 2024

Historical data

Pick an indicator to see its long-run evolution.

Population

2000–2024
75,129▲ 34%

U.S. Census Bureau: intercensal estimates 2000–2009, Vintage 2020 (2010–2019) and Vintage 2024 (2020–2024), July 1.

Data summary

IndicatorValueYear and source
Population estimate75,1292024 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 2010 Census63,3952010 · U.S. Census Bureau
Population, 200055,886July 1, 2000 · Census intercensal
Change since 2000+34.4%2000–2024 · Census
International migration+172024 · Census Vintage 2024
Domestic migration+2952024 · Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate8.9 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Death rate8.9 per 1,0002024 · calculated
Population rank in Montana6th of 562024 · calculated
Per capita personal income$67,391BEA, 2024 · official
Gross domestic product$5.7 billionBEA, current dollars, 2024 · official
Median household income$78,237ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Poverty rate8.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Bachelor’s degree or higher43.0%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Foreign-born residents1.9%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median home value$393,500ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median gross rent$1,102/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Median age41.8 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Households31,215ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official
Owner-occupied homes70.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year · official

Lewis and Clark County in context

Comparable indicators for Lewis and Clark County, Montana and the United States.

IndicatorCountyMontanaU.S.Reference
Population change 2020–2024+5.9%+4.9%+2.6%Census Vintage 2024
Birth rate (per 1,000)8.99.910.62024
Death rate (per 1,000)8.99.99.12024
Net migration rate (per 1,000)4.25.28.22024
Population density (/mi²)21.77.896.32024
Per capita personal income$67,391$69,240$73,204BEA, 2024
Median household income$78,237$72,509$80,734ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Poverty rate8.1%11.5%12.5%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Bachelor’s degree or higher43.0%35.2%35.7%Age 25+, ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Foreign-born residents1.9%2.3%14.1%ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median home value$393,500$375,800$332,700ACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median gross rent$1,102/month$1,081/month$1,413/monthACS 2020–2024 5-year
Median age41.8 years40.4 years38.9 yearsACS 2020–2024 5-year
Owner-occupied homes70.1%69.2%65.2%ACS 2020–2024 5-year

Did you know? Lewis and Clark County

6th most populous of 56

With 75,129 residents in 2024, Lewis and Clark County ranks 6th by population among Montana's 56 counties and is home to 6.6% of the state's residents.

A quarter century of change

Its population went from 55,886 in 2000 to 75,129 in 2024, a change of +34.4%, compared with +25.8% for Montana as a whole.

Births and deaths

In the year to July 2024 the county recorded 669 births and 665 deaths, so births outnumbered deaths by 4.

Record population

Annual Census estimates since 2000 put the county's highest population in 2024, at 75,129.

8th in density

Lewis and Clark County has about 21.7 residents per square mile of land, ranking 8th of 56 counties; Montana averages 7.8.

Household income rank

With a median household income of $78,237 (ACS 2020–2024 5-year), the county ranks 5th of 56 Montana counties; the state median is $72,509.

Size of the economy

Its economy produced $5.7 billion of GDP in 2024 (BEA), 6th largest among 56 Montana counties.

Latest economic growth

Real GDP grew 4.0% in 2024, adjusted for inflation (BEA, chained 2017 dollars).

Sources and methodology