MonitorBankRates
☰
New Report Fall 2026 Housing Affordability Report: every state is less affordable than in late August as average 30-year mortgage rates passed 7%. Read the report

Helena, MT Housing Affordability Index

Helena, Montana has an MBR Housing Affordability Index score of 85.7 (Moderately Less Affordable) as of October 30, 2026, ranking 177th most affordable of 217 scored Montana cities, compared with 92.8 statewide and 97.4 nationally. On a median-priced $387,300 home with 20% down, the Montana average 30-year fixed rate of 7.26% means a monthly principal and interest payment of about $2,115, or 36% of the city’s $71,036 median household income.

The MBR Housing Affordability Index (MBR-HAI) for Helena is updated every night from live Montana mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income, home value and housing cost data for the city. A score of 100 equals the national average; higher scores mean homeownership is more affordable.

Helena MBR-HAI 85.7 Moderately Less Affordable
Rank in Montana 177 of 217 1 = most affordable
Montana 92.8 Statewide score
National 97.4 100 = baseline
Avg 30-yr rate 7.26% Montana lenders
Median home value $387,300 U.S. Census Bureau

Helena is 7.0 points below the Montana score. Scores as of October 30, 2026. See the Montana index

View Helena Mortgage Rates

What It Takes to Buy in Helena

$2,115/mo
Principal & Interest
Median home, 20% down, 7.26%
$90,600
Income Needed
To keep the payment at 28% of income
$71,036
Median Household Income
Montana: $72,509
5.5x
Price-to-Income Ratio
Montana: 5.2x
$1,233/mo
Median Owner Costs
Mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities
$3,627/yr
Median Property Tax
0.94% of median value
26.2%
Owner Cost Burden
Owners spending 30%+ of income on housing
38.2%
Renter Cost Burden
Renters spending 30%+ of income on rent

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024) for Helena, Montana. The rate is the Montana average 30-year fixed rate from MonitorBankRates, since lenders publish rates by state.

Cite the Helena Score

“MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, MonitorBankRates.com, October 30, 2026. Helena, Montana score: 85.7 (Moderately Less Affordable), ranked 177 of 217 Montana cities. monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/montana/helena”