Rent Tracker
Rent Inflation in Helena, MT
The average asking rent in Helena, MT is $1,610/month as of 2026-08. That is +2.9% compared to a year ago.
Source: Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) | zillow.com/research
Current Avg Rent
$1,610/mo
as of 2026-08
Year-over-Year Change
+2.9%
24-Month Rent Trend
Monthly ZORI index values for Helena, MT.
| Month | Avg Asking Rent | Change from Prior Month |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-08 | $1,610 | +0.56% |
| 2026-07 | $1,601 | +1.20% |
| 2026-06 | $1,582 | +0.38% |
| 2026-05 | $1,576 | +1.16% |
| 2026-04 | $1,558 | +0.52% |
| 2026-03 | $1,550 | +0.98% |
| 2026-02 | $1,535 | +0.79% |
| 2026-01 | $1,523 | -0.85% |
| 2025-12 | $1,536 | -0.32% |
| 2025-11 | $1,541 | -1.66% |
| 2025-10 | $1,567 | +0.58% |
| 2025-09 | $1,558 | -0.45% |
| 2025-08 | $1,565 | +0.13% |
| 2025-07 | $1,563 | +0.64% |
| 2025-06 | $1,553 | +1.11% |
| 2025-05 | $1,536 | +1.25% |
| 2025-04 | $1,517 | -0.46% |
| 2025-03 | $1,524 | +0.53% |
| 2025-02 | $1,516 | +0.66% |
| 2025-01 | $1,506 | +0.80% |
| 2024-12 | $1,494 | -0.20% |
| 2024-11 | $1,497 | -0.13% |
| 2024-10 | $1,499 | +0.07% |
| 2024-09 | $1,498 | — |
Why Rent Inflation Matters
Shelter is the single largest component of the official CPI, accounting for roughly one-third of the index. But the BLS shelter index tends to lag real-market rent changes by 12–18 months because it measures rents paid by all tenants — including long-term renters locked into old leases. ZORI measures asking rents for new leases, making it a timelier signal of where CPI shelter inflation is headed.
When ZORI is rising sharply in your city, it is a leading indicator that official shelter inflation — and therefore overall CPI — will remain elevated in coming months.
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Data Source
Rent data uses the Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), a smoothed measure of typical market-rate asking rents updated monthly by Zillow Research. ZORI covers single-family homes, condos, and co-ops and reflects asking rents for new leases — making it a more timely indicator than the lagged BLS shelter index. zillow.com/research | Money & Prices