1. Start with Billings city and Yellowstone County—not an assumed market
Billings is recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau as a municipality in Montana. The 2020–2024 ACS five-year estimate lists 119,434 residents, with a margin of error of 59, and records Billings in Yellowstone County. That is geographic and population context only. It does not establish legal demand, search volume, competition, lead volume, case volume, or revenue. For Local Service Ads, the useful question is narrower: which locations should your profile serve, and which locations should be excluded because your firm does not want those inquiries?
Recommended approach
Define the service geography in operational terms before discussing budget. Separate Billings city from Yellowstone County and from any other Montana locations your firm may serve. Review whether your office can accept, consult with, and represent people in each chosen area. Use the consultation to compare the geographic settings you want with your actual intake capacity and licensing requirements. Do not use the population estimate as a forecast.
