Last checked October 29, 2026.
Northwest Montana ranges from Kalispell, where a 1-bedroom rents for about $1,390 on listing sites, to Whitefish, where asking rents average about $1,550 and the median home sold for about $894,000.
| Town | Census median rent, 1-bedroom | Income needed at Census rent | Income needed at current asking rents | Census median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalispell | $738 | $35,685 | $50,089 | $428,000 |
| Polson | $912* | $38,866 | $356,300 | |
| Hamilton | $947* | $39,505 | $310,000 | |
| Columbia Falls | $1,016* | $40,767 | $52,081 | $384,400 |
| Missoula | $1,024 | $40,913 | $49,760 | $473,100 |
| Whitefish | $1,354* | $46,945 | $53,068 | $684,300 |
* All unit sizes; the Census 1-bedroom figure was too uncertain. Census figures: ACS 2020–2024, rent paid including utilities. Income needed: single adult, paid-off car, 10% saved, after taxes. See all towns for details.
Region notes
- Resort tax: 3% in Whitefish, Columbia Falls and St. Regis (details).
- Utilities: NorthWestern Energy serves Missoula. In the Flathead Valley (Kalispell, Whitefish, Columbia Falls), Flathead Electric Cooperative supplies electricity at lower rates than NorthWestern’s. Mission Valley Power serves Polson (utilities).
- Getting around: Missoula’s Mountain Line buses are free.