City · Montana
Polson, Montana
Polson, city, in Lake County, Montana. Polson had 5,653 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 9.6% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,148 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,428 (±23). GEOID 3058750.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,653
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,148 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,428 ±23
Median household income
$53,418
±$4,920 (90% margin)
Montana: $72,509
Median home value
$356,300
±$53,899 (90% margin)
Montana: $375,800
Median gross rent
$912
±$57 (90% margin)
Montana: $1,081
Where is Polson and what county is it in?
Polson is a city in Lake County, Montana. It covers 4.5 square miles of land, 1,146 residents per square mile in 2020.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Polson, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,653 people lived in Polson on July 1, 2025, up 9.6% since 2020, faster than Montana (+5.6%). The 2020 Census counted 5,148 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,428 (±23).
| Measure | Polson | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,428 ±23 | 32,561 | +510 |
| Households | 2,380 ±216 | 12,576 | +320 |
| Average household size | 2.24 ±0.20 | 2.56 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,885 ±241 | 16,468 | no clear change |
Polson's population since 2000
From 4,041 in 2000 to 5,653 in 2025: up 39.9%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Polson as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
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 Polson?
The median resident of Polson is 43.0 years old; 20.1% are under 18 and 24.8% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.4%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 12.3%.
| Measure | Polson | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43.0 ±8.0 | 44.3 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.1% ±4.3 pts | 22.0% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.8% ±4.5 pts | 24.2% | – |
| Male | 44.3% ±2.8 pts | 49.4% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 7.6% ±3.4 pts | 4.3% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.4% ±5.7 pts | 64.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 12.0% ±3.3 pts | 19.6% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 12.3% ±5.7 pts | 10.2% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.3% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 2.4% ±1.7 pts | 2.3% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 3.3% ±2.4 pts | 6.2% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 10.8% ±3.0 pts | 9.5% | – |
| With a disability | 16.2% ±3.3 pts | 15.7% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 10.5% ±3.5 pts | 14.5% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 91.5% ±4.4 pts | 92.9% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 29.6% ±4.9 pts | 31.5% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 12.2% ±3.1 pts | 11.0% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 90.1% ±4.2 pts | 89.7% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 3.6% ±2.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
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 Polson earn?
Half of Polson's 2,380 households earn less than $53,418 a year (±$4,920), against $63,360 in Lake County and $72,509 in Montana. In 2015-2019 the median was $45,602 in 2024 dollars, so it rose by $7,816 after inflation. 17.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Polson | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $53,418 ±$4,920 | $63,360 | +$7,816 |
| Mean household income | $67,427 ±$8,033 | $90,243 | – |
| Per capita income | $31,661 ±$3,181 | $36,177 | +$5,503 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.5% ±5.4 pts | 17.2% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 16.3% ±12.0 pts | 23.0% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 13.1% ±4.7 pts | 10.7% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.2% ±2.9 pts | 91.4% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.0% ±4.2 pts | 84.8% | – |
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 Polson?
Owners occupy 54.6% of Polson's occupied homes and renters 45.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $356,300 by its owner (±$53,899). The median renter pays $912 a month including utilities, and 46.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Polson | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $356,300 ±$53,899 | $421,800 | +$125,914 |
| Median gross rent | $912 ±$57 | $901 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.6% ±10.5 pts | 34.4% | +21.7 pts |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,718 ±$177 | $1,806 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 54.6% ±6.6 pts | 75.0% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 45.4% ±6.6 pts | 25.0% | – |
| Housing units | 2,885 ±241 | 16,468 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 1.9% ±2.2 pts | 1.1% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.4% ±2.4 pts | 4.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 59.7% ±4.9 pts | 77.9% | – |
| Mobile homes | 4.4% ±2.0 pts | 10.0% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.5% ±1.4 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 6.3% ±2.6 pts | 8.0% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 13.5% ±4.1 pts | 9.7% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.1% ±2.5 pts | 4.8% | – |
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 many new homes is Polson building?
Builders took permits for 58 new housing units in Polson in 2025 (16 in single-family houses), 10.3 per 1,000 residents against 4.6 across Montana.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Polson work and get to work?
82.0% of Polson's workers drive alone and 4.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.7 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.9%.
| Measure | Polson | Lake County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 54.8% ±6.1 pts | 55.3% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% ±4.3 pts | 5.7% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 82.0% ±5.4 pts | 69.4% | – |
| Carpooled | 6.6% ±3.3 pts | 12.4% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.4 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 3.3% ±2.5 pts | 2.9% | – |
| Worked from home | 4.9% ±2.7 pts | 13.2% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.7 min ±3.9 | 22.9 min | +5.8 min |
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 Polson?
No census tract lies mostly in Polson; 4 tracts reach into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 9403.05Lake County | 3,478 | $65,229 |
| Tract 9403.07Lake County | 3,792 | $74,191 |
| Tract 9403.04Lake County | 2,208 | $52,404 |
| Tract 9403.06Lake County | 3,135 | $71,875 |
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 Polson) · Census block assignment files
How does Polson compare with other places in Montana?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Polson is the 4,564th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 18th-most populous of 127 in Montana.
Polson ranks 70th of 90 places in Montana with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 18th | 127 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 18th | 53 |
| Residents per square mile | 45th | 93 |
| Median household income | 70th | 90 |
| Per capita income | 65th | 93 |
| Median home value | 35th | 89 |
| Median gross rent | 49th | 82 |
| Poverty rate | 19th | 65 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37th | 90 |
| Median age | 31st | 93 |
| Owner-occupied share | 81st | 92 |
| Work from home | 43rd | 46 |
| Travel time to work | 34th | 93 |
Polson's figures with every place in Montana (CSV)
Every place in Montana, sortable · Compare Polson 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 Polson?
13 of the 57 figures for Polson 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 Polson 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' public schools in Polson.