Jefferson CityMT
A town of 533, settled in 1866.
Is Jefferson City a good place to live?
1% of working residents work locally in Jefferson City, below both the Montana town median (39%) and the median of U.S. towns (8%). Of the 43 Montana towns we compare, none has a higher owner-occupancy rate than Jefferson City. The biggest park or preserve is Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, at 45 acres. Jefferson City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
533 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Moving to Jefferson City: who provides what
Jefferson City is unincorporated, so Jefferson County and regional agencies provide most services.
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Jefferson City.
Young adults are less common in Jefferson City than in Montana
Adults 18 to 34 are 8% of residents (22% statewide); children under 18 are 29% of residents (21% statewide). College graduates make up 26% of adults 25 and older, against 35% across Montana.
Ages · share of residents
Education · adults 25 and older
Women and men · all residents
Somewhere between 37% and 63% women
The Census survey reached too few of Jefferson City’s residents to say more: its margin here is ±13 points. Across Montana, 49.3% of residents are women.
| Jefferson City | MT | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 19.1% | 11% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.1% | 10% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 0% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 8.4% | 12.9% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 10.3% | 12.9% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 0% | 11.1% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 28.5% | 13% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 23.5% | 12.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 0% | 7.8% | 7% |
| No diploma | 1.1% | 5.4% | 10.4% |
| High school | 56.8% | 27.5% | 26% |
| Some college | 16.7% | 22.4% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 0% | 9.6% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 10.1% | 23.2% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 15.4% | 12% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 500, single groups can be off by several points
Jefferson City stands out in Montana and nationally: the average trip to work there is longer
Among 43 Montana towns, just 2 have a higher income of the median household than Jefferson City. The top destinations are Helena (34%), Montana City (11%) and Clancy (6%). The town had 27 jobs in 2023, up 22 from 2013. Half the trips to work are shorter than 15 miles.
| Jefferson City | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $126,000 | $67,000 | $80,000 |
| Average trip to work | 27 minutes | 17 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazards: high risk in Jefferson City, mostly inland flooding
FEMA puts 47% of Jefferson City’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 18% to wildfires. Expected damage from storms and floods is higher here than in 77% of U.S. communities. One declared disaster, in 2011, has brought federal aid to Jefferson City households.
FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
19.1% of Jefferson City is conserved land
Jefferson City’s trail density stands at 1.1 miles per square mile. Across 1 park or preserve: 24 miles of trail.
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest | — | 45 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Jefferson City
For Jefferson City, the typical July afternoon high is 82°F.
Typical low → high °F
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
How healthy Jefferson City is
Among adults in Jefferson City, 17% report frequent mental distress. This Montana town tracks Montana closely on all 32 CDC measures. Only 2 of the 42 Montana towns we compare have a lower share of adults who feel lonely than Jefferson City. In Jefferson City, 72% of adults had a checkup this year, and 31% sleep under 7 hours.
| Jefferson City | Montana towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel lonely (CDC PLACES) | 28% | 31% | 33% |
| Yearly checkup (CDC PLACES) | 72% | 72% | 79% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 31% | 32% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 20% | 16% |
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Everything we know about Jefferson City
Colleges nearby
None within 15 miles of Jefferson City; the nearest are
About 2 of every 100 Jefferson City residents are enrolled in college, against 5 across Montana.
99% of working residents leave Jefferson City for work
Where Jefferson City’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
Census LEHD 2023
About Jefferson City
Census-designated place in Montana, United States
Jefferson City is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Jefferson County, Montana, United States. As of the 2020 census, Jefferson City had a population of 597. It is part of the Helena Micropolitan Statistical Area. The community began as a stop along the Fort Benton and Virginia City stage line. It took its name when Jefferson County was named one of Montana Territory’s original counties on February 2, 1865. Summer activities include the Tizer Botanic Gardens & Arboretum with its 100 varieties of roses and 150 varieties of clematis.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 23 sq mi
- Elevation
- 4,564 ft
- ZIP code
- 59638
Questions about Jefferson City
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Jefferson City, MT a good place to live?
Jefferson City has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.