City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Columbia Falls, MT

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Columbia Falls - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

5,531
Residents
$65,313
Median income
$346,700
Median home
$1,691
Median rent (state)

Columbia Falls - the verdict

Columbia Falls ranks in the 43rd percentile for household income and the 35th percentile for safety nationally, out of every US city with at least 1,000 residents. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

43rd
percentile, household income
71st
percentile, home value
67th
percentile, median rent
35th
percentile, safety
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Columbia Falls, MT

Montana's Columbia Falls is a small town, with 5,531 residents per the latest Census Bureau ACS figures. Columbia Falls households earn a median of $65,313 annually, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.7%. Columbia Falls's housing stock carries a median value of $346,700, and the median resident age is 38.3 years. 31.6% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 64.6% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The Census Building Permit Survey recorded 12 residential units authorized here in 2024 (Construction Slowdown), down 90% from five years earlier. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: FBI UCR figures show 1867.1 crimes per 100,000 residents, near the national average (reporting is voluntary across agencies, so treat this as reporting activity rather than a definitive danger score).

Living costs in Montana run below the national norm: on BEA's 100-equals-national-average cost index, Montana scores 94.6 (Below Average), per the 2024 Regional Price Parities release. A typical two-bedroom carries a HUD Fair Market Rent of $1,691 per month statewide. EIA 2023 residential energy data puts Montana's average monthly utility costs around $175 (state average). FEMA's National Risk Index rates natural-hazard exposure at 86.5 out of 100 (Very High).

Population

5,531 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$65,313 /yr

Poverty 5.7%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Columbia Falls compare to other US cities?

Where Columbia Falls sits among all US cities (population 1,000+) on each measure, computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 43% higher than other cities
Home value 71% pricier than other cities
Median rent 67% pricier than other cities
Safety 35% safer than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

A national percentile can hide a lot of local variation: narrowed to Montana alone, Columbia Falls ranks #25 of 39 Montana cities by lowest crime rate - a different, more locally useful comparison than stacking it against the entire country.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

Each percentile compares Columbia Falls against every qualifying US city; each in-state rank narrows that to Montana only. Full formula and direction notes: methodology.

Montana-relative analysis

Median Gross Rent places Columbia Falls toward the top of Montana's cities

Among the 317 Montana cities PlainCities tracks with reported median gross rent data, Columbia Falls ranks #25 - the 87th percentile within the state. This is a different, narrower cut than the nationwide percentiles above: it compares Columbia Falls only against its own state's cities, not the full US field.

Median Household Income
#120 of 282
57th percentile in Montana
Median Gross Rent
#25 of 317
87th percentile in Montana
Median Home Value
#81 of 279
71st percentile in Montana
Poverty Rate
#167 of 315
46th percentile in Montana
Bachelor's Degree or Higher
#85 of 317
73rd percentile in Montana

Ranked by raw value (highest first); a higher rank is not automatically "better" for every measure, see each metric's own context above. This is a comparison within Montana only, not a livability score. See the methodology for the source and calculation.

43rdIncome percentile
35thSafety percentile

43rd percentile nationally for median household income · 35th percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Columbia Falls's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Columbia Falls's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown. 3-axis radar comparing 1 series across Income, Affordability, Safety. IncomeAffordabilitySafety 36 Avg. percentile National median
Columbia Falls's percentile rank on 3 favorable-direction measures (income, affordability, safety) vs. every tracked US city -- higher on every axis is more favorable. Not a composite quality score, just the arithmetic mean of the axes shown.

How Columbia Falls's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$346,700 29th percentile more affordable than 29% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Columbia Falls $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Columbia Falls, MT Columbia Falls, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Columbia Falls, MT-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Columbia Falls, MT median $65,313/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Columbia Falls, MT's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Columbia Falls, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 31.6%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.7%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 64.6%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
5,531
Median Income
$65,313
Median Home Value
$346,700
Median Age
38.3
Poverty Rate
5.7%
Labor force participation
64.6%
Bachelor's Degree+
31.6%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
1867.1
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
274.1
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
1593.0
per 100,000 residents

Reflects incidents reported to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program — agency participation is voluntary and reporting completeness varies by jurisdiction and year, so this reflects reporting activity, not a definitive danger score. Not adjusted for tourism, commuter, or daytime population.

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Population Change

Annual U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program (PEP) estimates, 2020–2025

See the fastest-growing cities →
5,200 residents5,400 residents5,600 residents5,800 residents 202020212022202320242025 5,396 residents 5,753 residents ▲ +6.6%
Columbia Falls's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

Census Bureau Building Permits Survey (BPS) - annual residential permits authorized

📉 Construction Slowdown
Total Permits (2024)
12
housing units authorized
Single-Family
12
detached homes
Multifamily
0
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
2.2
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 116
2020 35
2021 17
2022 21
2023 5
2024 12

Permit volume decreased 90% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.7%
Carpool
2.0%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
17.5%
Other
1.1%

Based on 2,837 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Montana - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$80
avg/month
Natural Gas
$55
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$40
avg/month
Total Utilities
$175
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Montana state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Montana state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Columbia Falls sits in

Cost of Living Index
94.6
Below Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,691/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
86.5 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Montana

Four Corners
5,562 people
Polson
5,334 people
Orchard Homes
5,280 people
Bigfork
5,249 people
Helena Valley Northwest
5,070 people
Lewistown
6,028 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia Falls's 5,531 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Credit River, MN
5,531 people
Rothschild, WI
5,532 people
Locust, NC
5,529 people
Greenville, PA
5,533 people
DeWitt, IA
5,535 people
Somerdale, NJ
5,535 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Columbia Falls's $65,313 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Lillian, AL
$65,313 median income
Bluewater, CA
$65,313 median income
Truro, IA
$65,313 median income
Burrton, KS
$65,313 median income
Schoenchen, KS
$65,313 median income
Birch Run, MI
$65,313 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Columbia Falls, MT Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Columbia Falls, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 93.0% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4.6% White 93.0% Black or African American 0.0% Asian 0.8% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 3.0% Two or more races 3.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Columbia Falls compares to nearby Montana cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Columbia Falls (this city) 5,531 $65,313
Four Corners 5,562 $111,474
Polson 5,334 $51,463
Orchard Homes 5,280 $68,649
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Columbia Falls, MT?

What is the population of Columbia Falls, MT? +

Columbia Falls, MT counts 5,531 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Columbia Falls, MT? +

Columbia Falls households earn a median of $65,313 annually, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Columbia Falls? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Columbia Falls; the closest available measure is the Montana state average, a cost of living index of 94.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Below Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Montana vary by metro area.

Is Columbia Falls, MT safe? +

Columbia Falls has a total crime rate of 1867.1 per 100,000 residents, which is near the national average. This reflects incidents reported to the FBI UCR program, not a definitive safety score -- agency reporting is voluntary and completeness varies by jurisdiction.

What is the median home value in Columbia Falls, MT? +

The median home value in Columbia Falls is $346,700, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, FBI UCR, NCES CCD, Census BPS 2024, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.