Columbia Falls city, Montana Demographics & Population 2026

Population Overview

Columbia Falls city is a small city located in Montana. The total population is 5,531. It ranks as the 22nd most populous out of 470 cities and towns in Montana.

Age Demographics

The median age in Columbia Falls city is 38.3 years. This is 5% lower than the state median of 40.2 years.

Economy, Income & Housing

The median household income in Columbia Falls city is $65,313. This is 7% lower than the state median of $69,922. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 17% lower. The poverty rate stands at 16.1%. This is 33% higher than the state poverty rate of 12.0%. The unemployment rate is 6.9%. This is 82% higher than the state rate of 3.8%. The median home value is $346,700. Housing costs are 3% higher than the state median of $338,100. The home-value-to-income ratio is 5.3x. 64.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 7% lower than the state average of 69.4%.

Race & Ethnicity

Columbia Falls city has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 92.7% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 4.6%.

Education

31.6% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is 8% lower than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 90.3%.

Data Sources & Methodology

All demographic data for Columbia Falls city, Montana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually, providing reliable estimates for communities of all sizes. Comparisons are made against Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 470 Census-designated places in Montana. For official data, visit data.census.gov.