What it's like to live in Kalispell
Kalispell is a small city in Montana with rent below the national average, unemployment below the national average, commutes that run shorter than most cities, and a population that has grown fast since 2020. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Kalispell deals with home prices well above the national average, household incomes below the national average, crime rates above the national average, and cold, harsh winters.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Low unemployment
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- High home prices
- Below-average household incomes
- Crime above national average
- Cold, harsh winters
- Snowy winters — 54" per year
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Kalispell compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Kalispell
Based on Kalispell's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,156
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,120 a year
- 49% of Kalispell renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$85,600
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $42,800
- Homes cost 6.7× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 24% below US
$1,078/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,078 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices run above average, with a median around $428,000. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $428,000 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 19% below US
3.5% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▲ 24% above US
409 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 1744/100k · Kalispell Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 43% below US
15 min average commute
Commutes run short here, averaging 14.9 minutes. That's an underrated perk of living in a smaller or well-planned city, where time isn't lost sitting in traffic. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 13% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 78°F, and winters are cold and harsh, with lows dropping to 17°F. It's a dry climate with limited rainfall.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 3.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
35% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 35% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
9 public schools inside the boundary
There are 9 public schools inside the boundary and 5 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Glacier National Park (40 miles away).
Bottom line
Kalispell's strongest points are rent below the national average and unemployment below the national average; the main tradeoffs are home prices well above the national average and household incomes below the national average. A year of median rent ($1,078/mo) equals 20% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget and people who want short commutes. It may be a harder fit for anyone who doesn't drive and anyone who dislikes long, cold winters.
Other places near Kalispell
All Montana guides →Moving to Great Falls →
148 mi away · pop. 60,329
Rent $900/mo · Income $63,373
Compare with Kalispell →Moving to Butte-Silver Bow →
177 mi away · pop. 35,052
Rent $856/mo · Income $61,857
Compare with Kalispell →Not sure Kalispell is the one?
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