Census-designated place · Montana
Bigfork, Montana
Bigfork, census-designated place, in Flathead County, Montana. Bigfork had 5,565 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±459). GEOID 3005875.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,565
±459 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,118
Median household income
$85,307
±$15,218 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$674,600
±$64,565 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$1,016
±$337 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
Where is Bigfork and what county is it in?
Bigfork is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Flathead County, Montana. It covers 31.3 square miles of land, 164 residents per square mile in 2020.
Bigfork is in the Kalispell, MT micropolitan statistical area (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Bigfork, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Bigfork's population at 5,565 (±459). The 2020 Census counted 5,118 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Bigfork is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Bigfork | Flathead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,565 ±459 | 110,695 | +897 |
| Households | 2,381 ±219 | 44,233 | +317 |
| Average household size | 2.30 ±0.19 | 2.47 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 3,302 ±229 | 51,680 | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Bigfork?
The median resident of Bigfork is 53.9 years old; 17.0% are under 18 and 32.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 84.5%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 8.4%. 4.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Bigfork | Flathead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.9 ±4.6 | 42.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.0% ±2.8 pts | 21.6% | – |
| 65 years and over | 32.9% ±5.0 pts | 21.1% | – |
| Male | 49.4% ±3.6 pts | 50.1% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 8.4% ±4.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 84.5% ±4.8 pts | 90.0% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.8% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 1.4% ±1.3 pts | 0.8% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.8% ±1.0 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.6% ±1.6 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.0% ±1.8 pts | 2.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.7% ±1.6 pts | 3.0% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.0% ±2.6 pts | 8.9% | – |
| With a disability | 14.1% ±3.3 pts | 11.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 5.6% ±2.4 pts | 10.0% | −7.7 pts |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 97.5% ±1.0 pts | 95.5% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 50.4% ±4.6 pts | 37.2% | +12.3 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.9% ±3.9 pts | 13.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 87.4% ±4.5 pts | 88.2% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.1% ±3.2 pts | 3.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Bigfork earn?
Half of Bigfork's 2,381 households earn less than $85,307 a year (±$15,218), against $73,925 in Flathead County and $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 it was $73,935 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 5.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Bigfork | Flathead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $85,307 ±$15,218 | $73,925 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $107,981 ±$10,402 | $99,728 | – |
| Per capita income | $47,976 ±$5,616 | $41,557 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 5.7% ±2.1 pts | 9.3% | −6.6 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.2% ±6.6 pts | 9.1% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 4.7% ±2.1 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.4% ±2.7 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 89.3% ±4.3 pts | 91.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Bigfork?
Owners occupy 79.7% of Bigfork's occupied homes and renters 20.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $674,600 by its owner (±$64,565). The median renter pays $1,016 a month including utilities, and 38.8% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Bigfork | Flathead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $674,600 ±$64,565 | $535,500 | +$225,028 |
| Median gross rent | $1,016 ±$337 | $1,142 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.8% ±17.4 pts | 36.5% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,196 ±$213 | $1,913 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 79.7% ±4.6 pts | 72.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 20.3% ±4.6 pts | 27.6% | – |
| Housing units | 3,302 ±229 | 51,680 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 16.3% ±11.6 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 74.4% ±4.5 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% ±1.5 pts | 7.9% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 3.6% ±1.4 pts | 3.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 16.1% ±3.4 pts | 14.5% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 4.1% ±2.5 pts | 6.9% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 5.2% ±2.6 pts | 4.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Bigfork work and get to work?
66.5% of Bigfork's workers drive alone and 17.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 21.3 minutes.
| Measure | Bigfork | Flathead County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 47.0% ±5.4 pts | 62.4% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 1.8% ±1.7 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 66.5% ±6.2 pts | 71.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.9% ±3.2 pts | 7.7% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.1% ±0.3 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Walked | 6.6% ±3.5 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 17.7% ±4.5 pts | 15.8% | +12.0 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 21.3 min ±2.0 | 19.6 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Bigfork?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Bigfork, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $68,906 (Tract 13.03) to $96,875 (Tract 13.04).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 13.04Flathead County | 2,252 | $96,875 |
| Tract 13.03Flathead County | 2,022 | $68,906 |
| Tract 13.05Flathead County | 1,967 | $72,083 |
| Tract 13.06Flathead County | 4,071 | $84,623 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Bigfork) · Census block assignment files
How does Bigfork compare with other places in Montana?
Bigfork ranks 19th of 90 places in Montana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 24th | 93 |
| Residents per square mile | 80th | 93 |
| Median household income | 19th | 90 |
| Per capita income | 13th | 93 |
| Median home value | 7th | 89 |
| Median gross rent | 33rd | 82 |
| Poverty rate | 62nd | 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 7th | 90 |
| Median age | 4th | 93 |
| Owner-occupied share | 19th | 92 |
| Work from home | 7th | 46 |
| Travel time to work | 24th | 93 |
Bigfork's figures with every place in Montana (CSV)
Every place in Montana, sortable · Compare Bigfork with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Bigfork?
9 of the 57 figures for Bigfork on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Bigfork are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.