Kalispell, MT — Momentum Score, Home Values & Best-For

All states·Montana·Kalispell

Flathead County · Kalispell · population 31,296

Growing fast
Kalispell, MT
Image: Wikipedia · Kalispell, Montana
OverviewCost of livingMoving guide
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68
Rising
Momentum score · 0–100

Where Kalispell stands

Population growing 6.2% per year.

Median home $556,983
1-year +0.0%
5-yr CAGR +6.5%
vs 5-yr peak -4.5%
Population +6.2%/yr

Home value trajectory · last 10 years

Zillow ZHVI · monthly
peak 2022-07$557k$233k$358k$482k$606k201620182020202220242026

Lifestyle scores

🚶
Walkability
32/100
Very car-dependent
Estimated from population density. Higher = denser, more amenities within walking distance.
🚉
Public transit
22/100
Transit limited
Curated list of major US transit systems + population-based estimate. Higher = real subway/rail/bus options.
💻
Remote work fit
87/100
Excellent for remote work
Composite of city size, housing cost, state tax structure, and region's remote-work track record.

Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.

Rent trajectory · last 5 years

Zillow ZORI · monthly
$1,972/mo$1,720$1,923$2,12620242026

Home value vs rent · indexed to 100

Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)
Home valueRent10510810020242026

Rent vs buy

Price-to-rent ratio: 23.5
Lean rent

At a 23.5 price-to-rent ratio, the math is starting to lean toward renting in Kalispell. Owner-occupier ROI requires longer holds and the assumption that prices keep appreciating roughly at the rate of rent.

How the momentum score breaks down

methodology →
Home YoY
50 · w22%
Home 5-yr CAGR
72 · w22%
Distance from peak
63 · w18%
Population growth
90 · w16%
Rent YoY
56 · w12%
Home 10-yr CAGR
83 · w10%
Long thesis

Kalispell has been growing population at 6.2% per year while home values compounded +6.5% annually. Demand-driven appreciation — the kind that persists as long as people keep showing up, which they currently are.

Short thesis

Kalispell's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.

About Kalispell

Kalispell is a city in Flathead County, Montana, with an estimated population of 31,296. The population has grown 6.2% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Kalispell is $556,983 as of 2026-04, up 0.0% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +6.5% annual growth (-4.5% from the 5-year peak). Rents in Kalispell average $1,972 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+1.7%). The composite momentum score is 68 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.

▲ Bull case

●People are voting with their feet: population growing 6.2% per year since 2020 — that’s faster than ~80% of US cities.
●Healthy 5-year run: +6.5% annualized over 5 years, outpacing US inflation.

▼ Bear case

○Local nuance: city-level data smooths over neighborhood differences. School zones, HOA rules, and street-level character matter — visit before deciding.

About Kalispell (Wikipedia)

Kalispell is a city in and the county seat of Flathead County, Montana, United States. The 2020 census put Kalispell's population at 24,558. The latest estimates put the population at 31,296. Among cities in Montana, it is the 8th largest by area, 7th most populous, and 8th fastest growing from 2010 to 2020. In Montana's northwest region, it is the largest city and the commercial center of the Kalispell Micropolitan Statistical Area. The name Kalispell is a Salish word meaning "flat land above the lake".

Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.

Playbook

Buyer

You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.

Seller

Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.

Investor

Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.

Local safety & alerts

No active National Weather Service alerts for Flathead County right now.

NWS active alerts (MT)Montana Emergency ManagementHow to prepare (NWS)

Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Flathead County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.

Cities like Kalispell

Whitefish, MT67 · RisingHamilton, MT70 · RisingBelgrade, MT62 · RisingLivingston, MT67 · Rising

Run the numbers for Kalispell

ToolCan I afford Kalispell?Income → city shortlistToolROI on a Kalispell rentalCap rate, cash-on-cash, DSCRToolCompare Kalispell to anywhereSide-by-side up to 3 citiesToolKalispell cost-of-livingEquivalent income elsewhere

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.

Climate & natural-disaster risk

Winter (Jan)
33° / 14°
avg high / low
Summer (Jul)
84° / 53°
avg high / low
Sunny days/yr
196
~54% of year
Annual precip
15″ rain
48″ snow
Disaster risk (1=very low, 5=very high)
Hurricane
Very low
Tornado
Very low
Wildfire
Very high
Earthquake
Moderate
Flood
Low

State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.

Current weather

Loading current conditions…

7-day forecast on weather.gov →

Find rentals & listings

Open current Kalispell listings on the major real-estate sites.

Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.

Local news & community

Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.

Local sports teams

Major professional teams the Kalispell area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.

Local economy & environment

Humidity
60%
Moderate climate
Median household income
$70,800
Montana state median
Top industries (state-level)
TourismMiningAgriculture

Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.

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