Hill County, Montana Population 2026

Updated April 2026 · US Census ACS 2023 5-Year Estimates · 12th-largest in Montana

The population of Hill County, Montana is 16,260 as of the 2023 American Community Survey, making it the 12th-largest county in Montana. The median household income is $55,313, the median home value is $187,600, and the median age is 34.0.

The population of Hill County has declined 0.5% since 2010 (16,151 → 16,065), a -0.04% annualized rate.

Hill County within Montana · Source: US Census TIGER/Line via us-atlas

16,260

Population

-0.04%

Annual growth

People / sq mi

$55,313

Median Income

$187,600

Median Home Value

Hill County covers 2,899 sq mi of land at 5.6 people per square mile.

About Hill County, MT

Hill County is a county in Montana with a population of 16,260. It ranks #12 among counties in Montana by population. The median age is 34.0, younger than the national median. The population is 51.0% male and 49.0% female.

The median household income in Hill County is $55,313, below the US median of $74,580. 15.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level. Home values sit at a median of $187,600, with monthly rent averaging $752. The homeownership rate of 66.8% is close to the national rate of 64.8%.

Educational attainment in Hill County reflects 25.6% of adults 25 and older holding a bachelor's degree or higher, below the national average of 34.3%. Roughly 4.6% of workers primarily work from home, below the national work-from-home rate of 14.2%. The average commute is 13.6 minutes each way.

Hill County Population History (2010-2024)

The county of Hill County had a population of 16,151 in 2010 and 16,065 in 2024, a -0.5% growth over 14 years. The peak was 16,534 in 2013. Average annual growth rate: -0.04%.

16,065

Population (2024)

16,151

Population (2010)

16,534

Peak (2013)

-0.04%

Avg Annual Growth

Year	Population	Change	Annual %	Source
2010	16,151	-	-	estimate
2011	16,391	+240	+1.49%	estimate
2012	16,395	+4	+0.02%	estimate
2013	16,534	+139	+0.85%	estimate
2014	16,500	-34	-0.21%	estimate
2015	16,435	-65	-0.39%	estimate
2016	16,440	+5	+0.03%	estimate
2017	16,468	+28	+0.17%	estimate
2018	16,351	-117	-0.71%	estimate
2019	16,494	+143	+0.87%	estimate
2020	16,253	-241	-1.46%	estimate
2021	16,207	-46	-0.28%	estimate
2022	16,069	-138	-0.85%	estimate
2023	16,181	+112	+0.70%	estimate
2024	16,065	-116	-0.72%	estimate

Race & Ethnicity

White	68.8%
Black or African American	0.3%
Asian	0.2%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	27.1%
Two or More Races	0.0%

Age & Sex

34.0

Median Age

49.0%

Female

51.0%

Male

16.0%

Age 65+

Age Distribution

Under 5

8.6%

5–9

8.2%

10–14

7.4%

15–19

7.0%

20–24

7.1%

25–34

12.0%

35–44

11.9%

45–54

9.8%

55–59

6.0%

60–64

5.9%

65–74

10.2%

75–84

4.2%

85+

1.6%

Children (under 15): 24.2% · Seniors (65+): 16.0%

Income & Poverty

Median household income	$55,313$-14,609 vs state
Mean household income	$74,611
Per-capita income	$29,497
Poverty rate	15.1%+8.0% vs state
Unemployment rate	2.6%
Employment-to-population	59.6%

Top Industries by Employment

Professional & business services

24.9%

Education & health care

11.3%

Retail trade

9.0%

Agriculture

7.6%

Public administration

7.1%

Construction

5.7%

Arts, entertainment & food

5.6%

Finance & real estate

5.6%

The largest employment sector in Hill County is professional & business services, accounting for 24.9% of workers.

How residents commute

0.2%

Drive alone

6.0%

Carpool

72.9%

Public transit

4.6%

Work from home

13.6 min

Avg commute

Housing

$187,600$-150,500 vs state

Median home value

$752

Median rent

66.8%

Homeownership rate

7,232

Total housing units

86.1%

Occupied

13.9%

Vacant

33.2%

Renter-occupied

Social & access

91.3%

With health insurance

90.3%

With broadband internet

22.8%

Foreign-born

6.2%

Veterans (18+)

11.7%

With a disability

97.7%

Speak language other than English at home

Education

91.2%

High School+

25.6%

Bachelor's+

Largest cities in Montana

Billings (118,321)Missoula (75,600)Great Falls (60,412)Bozeman (55,042)Butte-Silver Bow (34,929)Helena (33,126)Kalispell (26,830)Belgrade (11,425)All Montana cities →

Other counties in Montana

Yellowstone County (167,340)Gallatin County (122,194)Missoula County (119,639)Flathead County (108,445)Cascade County (84,601)Lewis and Clark County (72,580)Ravalli County (45,807)Silver Bow County (35,589)Lake County (32,073)Lincoln County (20,656)All Montana counties →

Part of Montana

Montana demographic profile All Montana data →

Metro areas in Montana

Billings (187,269)Missoula (124,435)Bozeman (122,194)Helena (92,391)Great Falls (84,601)All US metros →

County rankings

US Counties by Population Richest US Counties by Median Household Income Expensive US Counties by Home Value Educated US Counties Counties With Highest Poverty Rates Youngest US Counties by Median Age Oldest US Counties by Median Age Cheapest US Counties by Median Home Value Racially Diverse US Counties Counties With Largest Hispanic Population All rankings →

Frequently Asked Questions

Hill County, Montana has a population of 16,260 according to the US Census Bureau's 2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, making it the 12th-largest county in Montana. Population density is 6 people per square mile.

The population of Hill County has declined 0.5% since 2010 (16,151 → 16,065), a -0.04% annualized rate.

The median household income in Hill County, Montana is $55,313, with mean (average) household income of $74,611 and per-capita income of $29,497. 15.1% of residents live below the federal poverty level.

In Hill County, the largest racial and ethnic groups are White (68.8%), Hispanic or Latino (27.1%), Black or African American (0.3%). Figures are from the US Census Bureau's 2023 ACS 5-year estimates and reflect self-reported responses.

The median age in Hill County, Montana is 34.0 years. Residents are 49.0% female and 51.0% male.

The median home value in Hill County is $187,600 and median monthly rent is $752. 66.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. The county has 7,232 total housing units, 13.9% of which are vacant.

The largest employment sector in Hill County, Montana is professional, scientific, and management services, employing 24.9% of workers. The unemployment rate is 2.6%.

Billings is among the largest cities associated with Hill County, Montana, with a population of 118,321.