PlainCities

Ranking · Montana

Fastest-growing and fastest-shrinking places in Montana

Kalispell has the highest population change, 2020 to 2025 of Montana's 53 ranked places (+27.0%); West Yellowstone has the lowest (−6.9%). Ranked: places with 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census that are incorporated (the Census Bureau estimates only those each year).

Which are the fastest-growing places?

Fastest-growing places in Montana, first to fifth: Kalispell (+27.0%), Townsend (+25.8%), Belgrade (+25.2%), Red Lodge (+20.5%) and Whitefish (+20.2%).

Fastest-growing places in Montana, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
1 Kalispellcity +27.0% 31,851Flathead County
2 Townsendcity +25.8% 2,272Broadwater County
3 Belgradecity +25.2% 13,107Gallatin County
4 Red Lodgecity +20.5% 2,723Carbon County
5 Whitefishcity +20.2% 9,358Flathead County
6 East Helenacity +20.0% 2,325Lewis and Clark County
7 Roundupcity +18.8% 2,075Musselshell County
8 Libbycity +17.6% 3,274Lincoln County
9 Hamiltoncity +16.3% 5,451Ravalli County
10 Plainstown +13.6% 1,261Sanders County
11 Thompson Fallscity +13.5% 1,543Sanders County
12 Eurekatown +12.9% 1,562Lincoln County
13 Whitehalltown +12.8% 1,131Jefferson County
14 Stevensvilletown +12.4% 2,259Ravalli County
15 Ronancity +12.1% 2,209Lake County
16 Dilloncity +10.2% 4,271Beaverhead County
17 Bozemancity +9.7% 58,814Gallatin County
18 Polsoncity +9.6% 5,653Lake County
19 Helenacity +9.4% 35,138Lewis and Clark County
20 Bouldercity +8.8% 1,305Jefferson County
21 Columbia Fallscity +8.1% 5,753Flathead County
22 Livingstoncity +7.8% 9,290Park County
23 Missoulacity +6.4% 78,903Missoula County
24 Columbustown +5.8% 1,964Stillwater County
25 Choteaucity +5.6% 1,825Teton County

Source: Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · Census population estimates

Which are the fastest-shrinking places?

Fastest-shrinking places in Montana, first to fifth: West Yellowstone (−6.9%), Wolf Point (−5.2%), Plentywood (−3.2%), Three Forks (−3.2%) and Hardin (−2.9%).

Fastest-shrinking places in Montana, by population change, 2020 to 2025.
RankPlaceTypePopulation change, 2020 to 2025ResidentsCounty
53 West Yellowstonetown −6.9% 1,191Gallatin County
52 Wolf Pointcity −5.2% 2,531Roosevelt County
51 Plentywoodcity −3.2% 1,619Sheridan County
50 Three Forkscity −3.2% 1,920Gallatin County
49 Hardincity −2.9% 3,696Big Horn County
48 Glendivecity −2.9% 4,736Dawson County
47 Cut Bankcity −2.7% 2,976Glacier County
46 Fort Bentoncity −2.7% 1,416Chouteau County
45 Chinookcity −2.5% 1,155Blaine County
44 Sidneycity −1.9% 6,217Richland County
43 Glasgowcity −1.9% 3,145Valley County
42 Forsythcity −1.5% 1,652Rosebud County
41 Bakercity −1.2% 1,776Fallon County
40 Havrecity −0.9% 9,264Hill County
39 Manhattantown −0.5% 2,073Gallatin County
38 Colstripcity −0.5% 2,091Rosebud County
37 Great Fallscity −0.5% 60,208Cascade County
36 Maltacity −0.4% 1,846Phillips County
35 Laurelcity −0.2% 7,205Yellowstone County
34 Deer Lodgecity −0.1% 3,025Powell County
33 Miles Citycity +1.3% 8,450Custer County
32 Big Timbercity +2.5% 1,686Sweet Grass County
31 Conradcity +2.7% 2,393Pondera County
30 Butte-Silver Bowmunicipality +2.8% 35,469Silver Bow County
29 Anaconda-Deer Lodge Countymunicipality +3.0% 9,709Deer Lodge County

Source: Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · Census population estimates

How is this ranking made?

Each place's population change, 2020 to 2025 is read from the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base and its July 1, 2025 estimate. A place enters the ranking if it had 1,000 or more residents in the 2020 Census and is incorporated. Ties in the published figure share a rank. This is a measurement of one figure, not a judgment of a place.

Source: PlainCities ranking method applied to the Census Bureau population estimates, Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025) · How ranks are computed

How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections