Whitefish, Montana Demographics & Population 2026
During the 2020–2024 ACS period, Whitefish, Montana had a total population of 8,749, the 14th largest city in Montana, with a median household income of $73,811, which is 2% higher than the state average. The poverty rate is 9.4%.
Data vintage: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates · refreshed July 2026 · Methodology & source notes
Key Takeaways
- 56.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher — top 10% in Montana.
- Housing affordability is a challenge — homes cost 9.3x the median household income.
- Near full employment with an unemployment rate of just 2.4%.
Whitefish Quick Facts
How Whitefish Changed
Change from the 2019–2023 ACS period to 2020–2024. These are rolling five-year estimates, not year-over-year measurements.
| Metric | 2019–2023 | 2020–2024 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,422 | 8,749 | +3.9% |
| Median household income | $71,110 | $73,811 | +3.8% |
| Median home value | $648,200 | $684,300 | +5.6% |
How Whitefish Compares
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Detailed income brackets
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A less diverse community where one racial or ethnic group represents a large majority.
State average: 29 | National average: 61
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Whitefish Rankings in Montana
Explore Montana Rankings
Other Cities in Flathead County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalispell | 28,504 | $63,415 | 10.0% | $428,000 |
| Evergreen | 9,611 | $76,446 | 12.1% | $340,800 |
| Columbia Falls | 5,615 | $75,766 | 15.2% | $384,400 |
| Bigfork | 5,565 | $85,307 | 5.7% | $674,600 |
| Lakeside | 2,386 | $77,435 | 10.9% | $720,100 |
| Somers | 1,280 | $56,917 | 8.0% | $465,400 |
| Marion | 1,037 | $65,250 | 5.9% | $431,500 |
| Helena Flats | 857 | $93,625 | 2.3% | $582,400 |
| Batavia | 690 | $46,995 | 20.1% | $369,400 |
| Hungry Horse | 679 | $53,056 | 11.5% | N/A |
Cities Similar to Whitefish
These cities in the same state have comparable population and economic profiles.
| City | Population | Median Income | Home Value | Bachelor's+ | Poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helena Valley Southeast | 9,108 | $74,075 | $331,500 | 25.4% | 8.3% |
| Livingston | 8,780 | $65,861 | $392,400 | 38.6% | 13.7% |
| Miles City | 8,407 | $67,727 | $200,200 | 25.4% | 11.4% |
| Evergreen | 9,611 | $76,446 | $340,800 | 24.2% | 12.1% |
| Helena Valley West Central | 8,056 | $90,082 | $367,200 | 41.1% | 7.1% |
Population Overview
Whitefish is a small city located in Montana, within Flathead County. The total population is 8,749. It ranks as the 14th most populous out of 475 Census-designated places in Montana.
Age Demographics
The median age in Whitefish is 44.4 years. This is 10% higher than the state median of 40.4 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Whitefish is $73,811. This is 2% higher than the state median of $72,509. It is also 9% lower than the national median of $80,734. The poverty rate stands at 9.4%. This is 19% lower than the state poverty rate of 11.5%. The unemployment rate is 2.4%. This is 35% lower than the state rate of 3.6%. The median home value is $684,300. Housing costs are 82% higher than the state median of $375,800. The home-value-to-income ratio of 9.3x suggests that housing affordability is a significant concern for many residents. 61.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 11% lower than the state average of 69.2%.
Race & Ethnicity
Whitefish has a predominantly White (non-Hispanic) population, comprising 93.6% of all residents. Hispanic or Latino residents account for 2.2%. The Hispanic or Latino population (2.2%) is well below the state average of 4.6%.
Education
56.8% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This places Whitefish in the top 10% of all cities in the state for educational attainment. This is 61% higher than the state rate of 35.2%. Nationally, 35.7% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 97.2%. Notably, 16.7% of adults hold a graduate or professional degree, indicating a highly educated workforce.
Data Sources & Methodology
All demographic data for Whitefish, Montana is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 2020–2024 5-Year Estimates. The ACS collects data from approximately 3.5 million households annually and pools five years of responses so that even small communities can be measured, though the margin of error widens as the population falls. Comparisons are made against Montana state averages and national averages calculated from the same dataset. Rankings reflect the city's position among all 475 Census-designated places in Montana. Read more about how these figures are produced on our methodology page, or visit data.census.gov for official data.
Free data download: Get all Montana city and county demographics as CSV. Download Cities CSV | Download Counties CSV
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Whitefish, Montana?
Whitefish, Montana has a population of 8,749 according to the most recent U.S. Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.
What is the median household income in Whitefish, MT?
The median household income in Whitefish is $73,811, which is 9% lower than the national median of $80,734.
What is the poverty rate in Whitefish, MT?
The poverty rate in Whitefish is 9.4%. This means approximately 804 residents live below the federal poverty line.
What is the racial makeup of Whitefish, Montana?
Whitefish's population is 93.6% White, 0.0% Black, 2.2% Hispanic/Latino, and 0.0% Asian.
What is the median home value in Whitefish, MT?
The median home value in Whitefish is $684,300. The home-value-to-income ratio is 9.3x.
How educated is Whitefish, Montana?
56.8% of adults (25+) in Whitefish hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and 16.7% hold a graduate or professional degree.