Montana · 19 places of 5,000+
Fastest-growing cities in Montana, 2020 to 2024
Short answer
- Fastest
- +23.9%
- Growing
- 16
- Shrinking
- 3
The 19 fastest-growing
Kalispell grew fastest, from 25,267 in July 2020 to 31,296 in July 2024, +23.9%. It is the 7th largest of the 19 places ranked. 16 places grew and 3 shrank or held flat; the median change was +5.1%.
By raw numbers the biggest gain was in Kalispell, +6,029 people. At the other end, Sidney changed by -5.2%. Growth is measured between the July 2020 and July 2024 estimates for places with 5,000 or more residents in 2024, so fast growth from a small base can outrank larger absolute gains.
- 01Kalispell+23.9%
- 02Belgrade+19.2%
- 03Whitefish+17.5%
- 04Hamilton+13.9%
- 05Polson+9.1%
- 06Helena+7.7%
- 07Bozeman+7.5%
- 08Livingston+6.3%
- 09Columbia Falls+5.9%
- 10Missoula+5.1%
- 11Anaconda-Deer Lodge County+4.1%
- 12Lewistown+3.9%
- 13Billings+3.6%
- 14Butte-Silver Bow+2.6%
- 15Miles City+0.7%
- 16Laurel+0.4%
- 17Great Falls-0.7%
- 18Havre-1.3%
- 19Sidney-5.2%
Dots: the 19 places in the chart. Orange pin: Kalispell, ranked first.
All 19 places of 5,000+ ranked
| # | Place | 2024 | Since 2020 | County |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kalispell | 31,296 | +23.9% | Flathead County |
| 2 | Belgrade | 12,741 | +19.2% | Gallatin County |
| 3 | Whitefish | 9,256 | +17.5% | Flathead County |
| 4 | Hamilton | 5,383 | +13.9% | Ravalli County |
| 5 | Polson | 5,631 | +9.1% | Lake County |
| 6 | Helena | 34,729 | +7.7% | Lewis and Clark County |
| 7 | Bozeman | 57,894 | +7.5% | Gallatin County |
| 8 | Livingston | 9,021 | +6.3% | Park County |
| 9 | Columbia Falls | 5,713 | +5.9% | Flathead County |
| 10 | Missoula | 78,204 | +5.1% | Missoula County |
| 11 | Anaconda-Deer Lodge County | 9,811 | +4.1% | Deer Lodge County |
| 12 | Lewistown | 6,204 | +3.9% | Fergus County |
| 13 | Billings | 121,483 | +3.6% | Yellowstone County |
| 14 | Butte-Silver Bow | 35,480 | +2.6% | Silver Bow County |
| 15 | Miles City | 8,407 | +0.7% | Custer County |
| 16 | Laurel | 7,251 | +0.4% | Yellowstone County |
| 17 | Great Falls | 60,013 | -0.7% | Cascade County |
| 18 | Havre | 9,204 | -1.3% | Hill County |
| 19 | Sidney | 6,031 | -5.2% | Richland County |
Questions people ask
What is the fastest-growing city in Montana?
Kalispell, up 23.9% from July 2020 to July 2024 among places of 5,000+, to 31,296 residents.
Which Montana city added the most people?
Kalispell, which gained 6,029 residents from July 2020 to July 2024.
How many Montana cities are shrinking?
3 of 19 places of 5,000+ had the same or fewer residents in July 2024 than in July 2020.
Why use places of 5,000 or more?
Small towns can swing by double-digit percentages from a few new homes, and Census estimates for them carry more uncertainty. The 5,000 floor keeps the ranking to places where a percentage means something.
Sources and data as of
Data as of: Census Vintage 2024 population estimates, 2024 Gazetteer land area and internal points, SAIPE 2023 median household income.
How every number is computed: methodology. Spotted a wrong figure? Report an error.