City profile · Montana · Census ACS 2023

Kalispell, MT

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

26,830
Residents
$61,590
Median income
$381,400
Median home
$1,691
Median rent (state)

Kalispell - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Kalispell places in the 38th percentile for household income and the 22nd percentile for safety. Source: Census ACS + FBI UCR.

38th
percentile, household income
76th
percentile, home value
67th
percentile, median rent
22nd
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: Kalispell, MT

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 26,830 residents in Kalispell, a small city within Montana. The typical household in Kalispell brings in $61,590 a year, below the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.3%. Kalispell's housing stock carries a median value of $381,400, and the median resident age is 35.6 years. 32.9% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 63.3% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

In 2024, 232 residential building permits were authorized in Kalispell (Slowing), down 6% from five years earlier, per Census BPS data. Crime here tracks close to the national norm: the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program logs 2519.4 total incidents per 100,000 residents here, near the national average (agency reporting is voluntary, so this measures reporting activity, not 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. Statewide, HUD pegs Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit at $1,691 monthly. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Montana run around $175, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Natural-hazard exposure scores 86.5 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

26,830 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Montana

Median Household Income

$61,590 /yr

Poverty 5.3%

Cost of Living Index (state)

94.6 (US=100)

Below Average - BEA RPP 2024, Montana average

How does Kalispell compare to other US cities?

Here's how Kalispell stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 38% higher than other cities
Home value 76% pricier than other cities
Median rent 67% pricier than other cities
Safety 22% safer than other cities

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

National percentiles can mask local variation. Looking only at Montana, Kalispell ranks #29 of 39 Montana cities by lowest crime rate - a narrower, more locally useful cut than the national comparison above.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Kalispell's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Montana, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

38thIncome percentile
22ndSafety percentile

38th percentile nationally for median household income · 22nd percentile for safety (lower crime rate). Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

Kalispell's profile vs. every US city

Income, affordability, and safety percentile

Kalispell'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 30 Avg. percentile National median
Kalispell'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 Kalispell's home value compares nationally

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

$381,400 24th percentile more affordable than 24% 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%). Below this entry. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $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. Kalispell $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 - Kalispell, MT Kalispell, MT's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Kalispell, 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 Kalispell, MT median $61,590/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%
Kalispell, 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 Kalispell, MT. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 32.9%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.3%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 63.3%

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

Population
26,830
Median Income
$61,590
Median Home Value
$381,400
Median Age
35.6
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Labor force participation
63.3%
Bachelor's Degree+
32.9%

Safety & Crime

Total Crime Rate
2519.4
per 100,000 residents
Violent Crime
292.9
per 100,000 residents
Property Crime
2226.5
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
22
Public schools in this city

Population Change

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

See the fastest-growing cities →
24,000 residents26,000 residents28,000 residents30,000 residents32,000 residents34,000 residents 202020212022202320242025 25,263 residents 31,851 residents ▲ +26.1%
Kalispell's Census PEP population estimates, 2020–2025.

Housing Supply

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

🏗️ Slowing
Total Permits (2024)
232
housing units authorized
Single-Family
148
detached homes
Multifamily
84
apartments & condos
Supply Intensity
8.6
permits per 1,000 residents

5-Year Permit Trend (2019–2024)

Year Total
2019 248
2020 469
2021 886
2022 540
2023 547
2024 232

Permit volume decreased 6% from 2019 to 2024.

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Drive Alone
76.5%
Carpool
8.7%
Public Transit
0.0%
Walk
2.7%
Work from Home
10.0%
Other
2.1%

Based on 13,246 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 Kalispell 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

Helena
33,126 people
Butte-Silver Bow (balance)
34,929 people
Belgrade
11,425 people
Helena Valley Southeast
9,533 people
Anaconda-Deer Lodge County
9,512 people
Havre
9,333 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Kalispell's 26,830 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Bridgeton, NJ
26,836 people
Woodburn, OR
26,845 people
Benicia, CA
26,861 people
Palm Springs, FL
26,871 people
Plum, PA
26,873 people
South Portland, ME
26,780 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Kalispell's $61,590 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Belgium, IL
$61,591 median income
Loretto, PA
$61,591 median income
Atlanta, IN
$61,583 median income
Poultney, VT
$61,597 median income
Sheridan, WY
$61,598 median income
Scott City, MO
$61,581 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Kalispell, 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 Kalispell, MT - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 89.7% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5.0% White 89.7% Black or African American 0.3% Asian 1.4% American Indian 1.2% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 0.9% Two or more races 6.3% 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 Kalispell 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
Kalispell (this city) 26,830 $61,590
Helena 33,126 $69,341
Butte-Silver Bow (balance) 34,929 $57,633
Belgrade 11,425 $88,896
Census ACS 5-year FIPS MT FBI UCR NCES CCD Census BPS 2024 OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Kalispell, MT?

What is the population of Kalispell, MT? +

Kalispell, MT has a population of 26,830 according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Kalispell, MT? +

The median household income in Kalispell is $61,590 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Kalispell? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Kalispell; 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 Kalispell, MT safe? +

Kalispell has a total crime rate of 2519.4 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 Kalispell, MT? +

A typical home in Kalispell is worth $381,400, 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 Editorial

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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.