Montana’s population, once rapidly increasing due to COVID-19 and remote work migration, is now experiencing a slowdown, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s December 19 report. By July 2024, Montana’s population reached 1,137,223, a modest rise of 5,931 from the previous year, marking a significant decrease in growth compared to earlier years. This decline reflects a continued trend since the state’s peak pandemic growth of nearly 20,000 residents between 2020 and 2021, which had positioned Montana as the second-fastest growing state in the U.S.
The U.S. Census Bureau calculates annual population estimates by analyzing births, deaths, and migration patterns. This data, revealing a slowdown, highlights challenges like housing scarcity in areas such as Bozeman and the Flathead Valley. The state’s 2024 growth rate of 0.52% ranks 37th nationally, below the 1% U.S. average. Jeffrey Michael, from the University of Montana, noted that Montana’s growth rate is the lowest since 2002, also highlighting the state’s minimal international migration, with only 506 arrivals in 2024 compared to Idaho’s 7,899.
Michael attributes part of Montana’s stagnation to reduced domestic migration and higher housing costs, alongside the fading remote-work trend. Since the 2020 Census, Montana has added 53,017 residents, primarily from other states, despite having 3,000 more deaths than births. Montana, now the 43rd most populous state, surpasses Rhode Island, with Maine, New Hampshire, and Hawaii next in line, each with approximately 1.4 million residents. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia and Florida experienced significant growth, over 2%, with Texas gaining the most new residents.
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