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Living in
Kalispell.
About
Life in Kalispell
Kalispell punches above its weight as a regional hub, offering small-city amenities with real job opportunities and a diverse restaurant scene—over 300 establishments give you actual dining variety, not just chain restaurants. The cost of living is reasonable compared to other mountain towns, with median home values around $428,000 and a median household income of $63,415, though housing inventory is tight. You'll work short commutes on average (14.3 minutes), and the unemployment rate of 3.5% reflects a genuinely functional local economy, not just seasonal tourism jobs.
Kalispell at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
10.0%
Foreign-Born
3.5%
Broadband Internet
88.9%
of households
Population Growth
+27.0%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics3.5% foreign-born, most often from Canada
Who lives in Kalispell: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Kalispell, the largest foreign-born group is from Canada (17.2%), and 2.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.7%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
38.9%
of households
Married Couples
40.0%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.36
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MT
Rent, home values, and income in Kalispell
In Kalispell, home values are 14% above the MT average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
49.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.7%
spending 50%+
Median Property Tax
$3,297
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.1%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1985
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.8%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $556,201 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for MT
Unemployment in Kalispell
Unemployment in Kalispell is close to the MT average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Kalispell Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute14.9 min avg
How Kalispell residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Kalispell, most residents drive alone to work (74%), and 88% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Glacier Park International Airport (FCA)
Small hub561k passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 24% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Kalispell runs 24% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
408.8
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,744.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Kalispell Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Weather most common — 42 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
86.5 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Flathead County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Flathead County, which includes Kalispell, the most common type is winter weather, with 42 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 20 | Winter Weather | $100,000 |
| 2023 | 14 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 40 | Winter Weather | $2.0M |
| 2021 | 22 | Winter Weather | $5,000 |
| 2020 | 22 | High Wind | $460,000 |
| 2019 | 24 | Winter Storm | $50,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Winter Storm | Not estimated |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
7 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Flathead County, county-wide
Air Quality41 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Flathead County, which includes Kalispell, is typically good — 269 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
41
Good Days
269
per year
Moderate Days
95
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Flathead County, county-wide
Climate78°F summers, 17°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Kalispell has mild summers (avg high 78°F) and very cold winters (avg low 17°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
55°/31°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
78°/46°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
55°/30°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
33°/17°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
16.8"
Annual Snowfall
54.4"
Hot Days/Year
14
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
187
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
132
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 16°F | 1.40" |
| Feb | 36°F | 18°F | 0.96" |
| Mar | 45°F | 24°F | 1.11" |
| Apr | 55°F | 31°F | 1.34" |
| May | 65°F | 38°F | 1.84" |
| Jun | 71°F | 44°F | 2.84" |
| Jul | 82°F | 48°F | 1.14" |
| Aug | 82°F | 46°F | 0.76" |
| Sep | 70°F | 38°F | 1.17" |
| Oct | 54°F | 29°F | 1.35" |
| Nov | 39°F | 24°F | 1.35" |
| Dec | 31°F | 17°F | 1.50" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 3.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Kalispell
Kalispell has 1 hospital, averaging 3.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
3.0 / 5
Logan Health Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Logan Health - Whitefish
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 11.4 mi away · Whitefish
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education15.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Kalispell
Kalispell's student/teacher ratio is 15.5:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 34.8% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
9
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
34.8%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Kalispell
Flathead Valley Community College
Public · 2-year · 1,202 students · in-state tuition $5,024 · 33% graduate · median earnings $41,547 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Glacier National Park, 40 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Kalispell
Kalispell has 1 nearby national park or recreation area, closest being Glacier National Park (40 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Glacier National Park
National Park
40 mi awayPublic Libraries in Kalispell
Imagineif Kalispell
247 1st Ave East, Kalispell
Cities Near Kalispell
The closest cities within 60 miles
No other cities we cover are within 60 miles of Kalispell.
Planning a move to Kalispell?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Kalispell FAQ
Is Kalispell, Montana affordable?⌄
Kalispell's median rent is $1,078/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $63,415/year. Median home value is $428,000.
Is Kalispell, Montana safe?⌄
Kalispell's violent crime rate was 409 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1744 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Kalispell, Montana?⌄
Kalispell has an unemployment rate of 3.5%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Kalispell, Montana?⌄
The cost of living in Kalispell is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,078/month and median household income is $63,415/year. The median home value is $428,000. About 49% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Kalispell, Montana?⌄
The average commute in Kalispell is 15 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from