Flathead
Montana

What stands out

If you had to describe Flathead County in numbers, start here: the home price against local income is in the top 2% of American counties (5.0 years of income), winter sunshine is in the bottom 2% of American counties (-2.3 on the USDA scale), and the median home price is in the top 3% of American counties ($650K). Within Montana it ranks 2nd of 56 counties for the home price against local income.

Where you are

You live in Flathead County, Montana. 105,950 people live here with you. The population grew 1.6% last year, and more Americans moved in than out (net +1,643).

Montana has no sales tax and a two-bracket income tax with a top rate of 5.65% for 2026. It taxes Social Security above income thresholds. Home prices in Bozeman, Missoula and the Flathead Valley roughly doubled between 2019 and 2023 as remote workers arrived, and the state passed a package of zoning reforms in 2023 to add housing supply. Wildfire smoke is now a regular late-summer feature.

Money

The typical household here brings in $68,025 a year, higher than 70% of American counties. Employers pay an average wage of $58,339. Unemployment runs 3.1%, lower than 63% of American counties. 14% of workers work from home; for the rest the average commute is 16 minutes each way.

Montana takes 5.0% of that median income in state income tax, about $3,392 a year.

Home

The median home costs $650K, pricier than 97% of American counties, about 5.0 years of the median household's income. A two-bedroom rents for around $1,040 a month. Property tax is 0.66% of home value, roughly $2,727 a year on that median home, lower than 70% of American counties. 74% of households own rather than rent.

Safety and health

Violent crime here is 3.3 per 1,000 residents, lower than 80% of American counties. Drug overdoses killed 14 people per 100,000 in 2024.

A child born here can expect to live 77.7 years, longer than 72% of American counties. There are 410 active physicians in the county, about 38.7 per 10,000 people. Medicare rates the local hospitals 3.0 of 5 stars. 12.1% of people under 65 have no health insurance.

School

Local students test at grade level 3.16 where 3.0 is national grade level, higher than 66% of American counties. 96% of adults finished high school.

Neighbors and politics

In 2024 your neighbors voted Republican by 24 points. 76% of eligible voters turned out. Under Montana law you can carry a concealed handgun without a permit, abortion is protected by state law, and marijuana is legal for adults.

Weather and risk

The year averages 42°F, highs near 53 and lows near 32, colder than 96% of American counties. About 39 inches of rain and snow fall a year. FEMA puts natural-hazard risk at 84 out of 100, riskier than 84% of American counties; the county has had 15 federal disaster declarations since 1953.

Getting around, going out

Home internet averages 158 Mbps down, slower than 68% of American counties. There are 28 airports in the county, counting general aviation. For a night or a weekend out: 1.1 full-service restaurants per 1,000 people, 4 breweries, 5 museums, 1 National Park Service site.