States › Montana › Helena Valley Northwest

Is Helena Valley Northwest, MT expensive to live in?

CheapRent takes 19 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,7003% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$108,502about $9,042/month · 25% higher than U.S. average
🔑 House price$404,20021% higher than U.S. average

Rent is higher than in 52% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 3.7 years of household income. Most homes (94.9%) are owned, so rentals can be hard to find.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $68,000 a year. That is $33 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Montana cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Montana. It is number 22 of 27 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Helena Valley Northwest
$1,700
Hamilton
$1,160
Polson
$863
Bigfork
$1,077
Orchard Homes
$1,060
Columbia Falls
$1,646
Four Corners
$1,419

How much do households earn in Helena Valley Northwest?

Under $25k
2.6%
$25k–50k
10.8%
$50k–100k
52.1%
$100k–150k
25.7%
$150k+
8.4%

Share of households by yearly income. 34.1% of households earn $100,000 or more.

How expensive is Helena Valley Northwest overall?

Everyday prices in Montana overall are 5% below the U.S. average (index 94.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
85
Goods (food, clothes…)
96
Utilities
72
Other services
99
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Helena Valley Northwest, so the Montana figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Helena Valley Northwest

🏛️ Property tax$2,670a year · 0.66% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$131a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Helena Valley Northwest

Commute to work22 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree35.7%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home94.9%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line2.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.5%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Helena Valley Northwest?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,105 a month less.

Renting
$1,700
Owning
$2,805

Owning assumes a typical $404,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $40,420 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Helena Valley Northwest, MT?

Renting in Helena Valley Northwest costs a median of about $1,700 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Montana median is $1,260.

How much do I need to make to live in Helena Valley Northwest?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $68,000 a year, or $33 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Helena Valley Northwest cheap or expensive?

Helena Valley Northwest is rated Cheap: rent takes 18.8% of the typical household income of $108,502. It ranks 22nd cheapest of 27 Montana cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Helena Valley Northwest?

The median homeowner in Helena Valley Northwest pays $2,670 a year in property taxes, about 0.66% of the median home value.

Is Helena Valley Northwest more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Montana are 5% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Helena Valley Northwest?

The median home value in Helena Valley Northwest is $404,200, about 3.7 times the typical yearly household income.

5,183 people live in Helena Valley Northwest. Numbers are typical (middle) values.