Data Centers in Helena

Helena, Montana, USA – Cost-Effective & Resilient Infrastructure

Helena offers a compelling environment for workloads that prioritize low operational costs and high physical security. The market is an excellent fit for disaster recovery sites, data archiving, and compute-intensive applications that can benefit from some of the lowest power and tax costs in the nation. This combination provides a stable platform for businesses looking to optimize budgets without compromising on resilience.

Helena, Montana, USA: At A Glance

Network & Connectivity Ecosystem

Helena is a secondary market focused on regional connectivity. While it lacks the density of a primary hub, it provides reliable network access for local and regional needs.

Carrier Density & Carrier Neutrality: The market contains a handful of regional and national providers, with at least one carrier-neutral facility available. As of September 2025, there are an estimated 3+ carriers active in Helena.

Direct Cloud On-Ramps: There are no public cloud on-ramps located directly in Helena. Businesses require private connectivity solutions, such as dedicated circuits or wavelength services, to connect to cloud provider networks in major hubs like Denver or Seattle.

Internet Exchange Points (IXPs): Public peering is not a feature of this market. Interconnection is typically handled through private peering arrangements within local data centers or by routing traffic to larger exchange points in primary markets.

Bare Metal: Bare metal server options are available in the region, typically through providers that can deploy hardware into colocation facilities. Services from providers like Hivelocity can serve deployments in secondary markets.

Power Analysis

Montana's power profile is a primary advantage for data center operators, characterized by low costs and a favorable generation mix.

Average Cost Of Power: Industrial electricity rates range from $0.05 to $0.07 per kWh, as of September 2025. These highly competitive rates can substantially reduce the total cost of ownership for power-intensive operations. The state's energy mix includes 57% from low-carbon and renewable sources.

Power Grid Reliability: The power grid supporting the region is well-engineered for its industrial and government users. Data centers in the area are typically served by redundant power feeds from separate substations, ensuring high levels of uptime.

Market Access, Business & Tax Climate

Helena's business climate is defined by its role as the state capital, offering unique advantages in taxation and access.

Proximity To Key Business Districts: Data centers in Helena are strategically located to serve the State of Montana government agencies, local financial institutions, and healthcare providers. This proximity is critical for applications requiring low-latency access to state-level services and data.

Regional Market Reach: From Helena, digital services can effectively reach the entire state of Montana and extend into neighboring states like Wyoming, Idaho, and the Dakotas. It serves as a logical and cost-effective hub for the northern Mountain West region.

Tax Advantage For Data Centers: Montana offers significant financial incentives. The complete absence of a state sales tax provides immediate savings on all hardware and software purchases, while specific property tax abatements for data centers further reduce long-term operating expenses.

Natural Disaster Risk

Helena has a moderate natural disaster risk profile, with an overall FEMA National Risk Index score of 59.12, as of September 2025. The area is not prone to major catastrophic events like hurricanes or coastal flooding, making it a stable location for long-term infrastructure.

Key risks for consideration include:

• Wildfire
• Drought
• Severe Winter Weather
• Earthquake
• Hail
• Riverine Flooding