Helena housing market
Typical home value
$473K
▲ 3.0% 1 yr
Typical rent
$1,646/mo
▲ 3.4% 1 yr
12-month forecast
+2.4%
#222 of 546 metros
Gross rent yield
4.2%
#493 of 546 · U.S. 6.3%
Listings with a price cut
20%
▼ −3.6 pts 1 yr
Key takeaways
- 1The typical home is worth $473,368, up 3.0% in a year and up 28% over five years.
- 2Zillow forecasts home values rising 2.4% over the next 12 months (U.S.: +1.1%).
- 3Typical rent is $1,646/mo (+3.4% YoY), a 4.2% gross yield, below the U.S. 6.3%.
- 4At 7.32% with 20% down, the typical home costs $2,601/mo in principal and interest, $955 more than renting.
Market temperature
Neutral market
Buyer'sNeutralSeller's
Zillow Market Heat Index: 49/100, #156 hottest of 546 metros. Below 44 favors buyers; above 55 favors sellers.
Home values and rent
Affordability
To buy (20% down)To rent
Source: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI and market activity data).
How Helena compares
| Measure | Helena | United States | Rank of 546 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home value, 1-yr change | +3.0% | +1.2% | #202 |
| Home value, 5-yr change | +28.1% | +19.7% | |
| 12-month forecast | +2.4% | +1.1% | #222 |
| Rent, 1-yr change | +3.4% | +2.7% | #264 |
| Gross rent yield | 4.2% | 6.3% | #493 |
| Price-to-rent ratio | 24.0 | 15.8 | |
| Mortgage P&I on typical home | $2,601 | $2,012 | |
| Income needed to buy | $123,109 | $100,902 |
Cities in the Helena metro
1 cities with home value and rent data.
| Helena | $478K | ▲ 2.9% | $1,630 | ▲ 2.9% | 4.1% |
Run the numbers
Rental property calculator
Cash flow on a typical Helena rental ($473K, $1,646/mo), pre-filled.
Mortgage calculator
Monthly payment on a typical Helena home.
Rent vs buy
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Helena?
Other Montana metros
Billings, MT
$410K home$1,390 rent4.1% yield
▲ 2.6% 1 yr
Missoula, MT
$570K home$1,622 rent3.4% yield
▲ 1.3% 1 yr
Bozeman, MT
$698K home$2,201 rent3.8% yield
▲ 1.1% 1 yr
Kalispell, MT
$646K home$2,025 rent3.8% yield
▲ 2.0% 1 yr
Great Falls, MT
$340K home$1,428 rent5.0% yield
▲ 2.7% 1 yr
Butte, MT
$286K home$1,443 rent6.0% yield
▲ 3.1% 1 yr
Gross yield = 12 × typical rent ÷ typical home value, before expenses. Mortgage estimate: 20% down, 30-year fixed at the current Freddie Mac average, principal and interest only. Forecast: Zillow Home Value Forecast. Data refreshed Oct 26, 2026.