Montana Towns Losing Residents in 2026

The population of Montana has grown steadily over the past 20 years, but things seem to be slowing.

Between 2020 and 2021, Montana's population grew the most, with nearly 20,000 new residents. According to U.S. Census Data, the state welcomed and estimated 15,000 newcomers. The population is still growing, but at a much slower rate.

18 cities and towns in Montana experienced population decline between 2020 and 2025, according to World Population Review.

Montana Towns Losing the Most Residents Right Now

Rural towns across the state are taking the biggest hit. Mostly because job opportunities are scarce. West Yellowstone, located near Yellowstone National Park, is one of the fastest-shrinking towns in Big Sky Country. For most of the year, the town is overrun with visitors, becoming a tourist trap. Housing is also hard to find, and rent prices are high.

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Wolf Point is another town that has seen a major decrease in population. There aren't many high-paying jobs, and many younger residents are leaving. The town also has a high poverty rate.

The population of Sydney has been declining steadily since 2020. The town is near the Bakken Oil Fields, and when the oil jobs left, so did the people.

Plentywood has been losing residents for a long time. Nearly 500 people have left in the past two decades. The people who live there are aging, and younger residents are moving away.

As with many towns in eastern Montana, the population of Hardin has seen a steady decline. The lack of high-paying jobs and a struggling economy are two of the main factors.

In Fort Benton, farming and ranching supported residents for nearly a century, but as the agricultural industry has changed and relies more on modern technology, fewer people are needed.